Multistakeholder Forum on Climate Change as a Security Threat in Nigeria

Climate Change is arguably the most significant driver of insecurity in Nigeria. Beyond causing major conflicts in several parts of the country, Climate Change serves as a major source of supply of work and manpower to armed non-state actors. This evident in the farmers-herders clash, sea robbery, Boko Haram insurgency, armed banditry, among others. Sadly, many state and non-state actors largely overlook the role of Climate Change in security discourse in the country. This informed the reason why Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) organized a two-day multistakeholder forum on “Climate Change as a security threat in Nigeria”.

The two-day forum gathered stakeholders from various relevant field to discuss the growing challenge of climate change, especially as it concerns human security. Jointly organized by FES-Nigeria and COSET, the forum had in attendance Climate and environment experts, as well as Security and Conflict transformation strategists. The speakers and panellists discussed several thematic issues, such as Climate change and Human Security, Climate Change and Food Security, Gender, Youth, and Climate Change, among others.

Among other key issues, majority of the discussants argued that the government needs to be proactive in addressing the challenges posed by Climate Change, through formulating and implementing effective policies, as well as adopting data-driven approach in their intervention. The discussants also made a few recommendations that will help in addressing both natural and human-induced Climate insecurity in our country – including improving coping and adapting mechanisms, supporting farmers with green funds, mainstreaming Climate action to the government’s National Livestock Transformation Plan (NLTP), engaging in research and development, among others.