International Alert Nigeria, an organization with a mission to promote peace building dialogue has inaugurated yet another stakeholders’ dialogue on Climate change adaptation and conflict sensitivity in Abuja, yesterday.
The stakeholders’ meeting brought together relevant state actors and non- state actors such as government ministries and agencies’ representatives, community/traditional leaders, civil society groups, academia as well as media to discuss approaches and chart collaborative actionable plans in addressing conflict and impact of climate change in Nigeria.
According to Country Director, International Alert Nigeria, Dr Paul Benshima Nyulaku, while speaking on importance of this dialogue at the meeting, said the essence of the meeting was to foster dialogue on addressing the adverse effects of climate change as part of peace building, development and humanitarian efforts.
He noted that climate change has led to numerous social economic inequality -becoming a key factor in Nigeria’s rising insecurity.
“Security concerns linked to climate change include impact on food, water and energy supplies, increased competition over natural resources, loss of livelihoods, climate-related disasters, forced migration and displacement.” – Nyulaku
Nyulaku stressed that there is a growing recognition that humanitarian assistance could contribute to conflicts and development aid unintentionally exacerbate tensions because interventions in conflict contexts are often exposed to the negative effects of conflict and climate change.
Speaking on the expected outcome of the meeting, Nyulaku said the expected outcome would be to generate consensus on ways for jointly addressing climate induced conflict and promoting adaptation through developing a multi-stakeholders strategy.
Representing the Presidency at the meeting was the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Dapo Oyewole, who was also one of the Panelists, while making his presentation said the overwhelming impacts of insecurity in Nigeria cannot be overstated.
“According to UNICEF, Nigeria has lost approximately $100bn between 2008 to 2021 due to conflicts and insecurity, imagine public schools, hospital, roads and bridges that would have been built with such an amount.”
“Also according to World Bank, by 2028, over 900milion people is estimated to be affected by severe food insecurity due to climate change, another driver of conflict that we need to tackle.”
Oyewole emphasized the need for partnership in tackling these issues of climate induced conflicts in Nigeria.
“Securing peace cannot be achieved by government and security forces alone. True lasting peace can only be achieved collectively. Therefore we must work together assiduously to secure peace as the bedrock for our beloved country, Nigeria.” Oyewole stated.
Representing the academia at the meeting, Prof Isaac Olawale Albert, Director of Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan said climate change is an existential issue that requires proactive approaches in tackling it.
“Climate Change has become an existential issue which has its impacts cut across the globe. These impacts require proactive approaches in mitigating them.” Olawale said.
He further recommended collaborations through multi stakeholders platform as such as the stakeholders’ dialogue put together by International Alert Nigeria in sharing best practices and key requirements for upscaling conflict sensitivity and collective strategies for climate adaptation.