Group Seeks Partnership With Nigeria On climate injustice in Africa

Africans suffer more on the impact of Climate Change, this requires the need for the continent to be in the forefront of decision-making bodies on issues related to climate change mitigation.

African Activist for Climate Justice Project Coordinator, in Nigeria Mr Kenneth Akpan, stated this when the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance led by Oxfam in Nigeria paid a courtesy visit to the Minister of State for Environment, Dr Izaiq Salako in his office in Abuja the nation’s capital.

He said there is a need to bring together Civil Society Organisation, communities, youth, and women groups to form a platform where the African voices can be heard.

“The African Activist for Climate Justice project is being implemented in African countries as a pilot., and that project is worth about 50 million euros, which has been supported by the Dutch government and the essence of this project is to see how Africans can have a voice when it comes to climate change and climate change related issues. It’s noticed that there has been a gap in which Africans suffer more or are part of climate change.

And we have contributed little as less than three per cent to the world, so there is a need for us to recognise that we have to be on the table when decisions are being made around climate change.” He stated.

Mr Apkan also noted that the purpose of the project is to amplify the Africa voices, by telling our stories for the world to know how the continent feels and also know that as Africa we also have solutions to the climate crisis.

‘’In Nigeria, we started this project in 2021, this is the third year of the project and we have recorded some successes, we are also part of a lobby group for the passage of the climate bill and we are happy that it has been made an act, and we can now confidently pursue and make sure that the implementations of this part is key to us.” He said.

He reiterated the commitment of Oxfam in working and collaborating with the Ministry and the Nigerian government in achieving its commitments of the Nationally Determined Contributions, NDC’s.

“The government alone can not meet these commitments without getting everybody on board. So the NDC’s is dear to us, we are looking at the accountability angle of it and how people can also contribute.

We have mobilised communities in the area of community development plans, that is awareness, how do people perceive climate change there has been over the years a lot of notions, as people see climate change as a myth, or something very far away. Climate change is also related indirectly or directly to the farmer herder’s crisis that we face over the years. A whole lot of the insecurity problems have directly linked to climate change.” He explained

He said the organisation is also looking at capacity engagement with the legislators to be effective in making the right decisions and to support the ministry and the Nigerian government to attain these goals.

In response, the Minister of State for Environment Dr Izaiq Salako said that Nigeria is one of the ten most vulnerable countries in the world with the adverse effects of climate change, while assuring that the Nigerian government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu is moving in the direction to ensuring that the issues of climate change is addressed.

‘’I’m very happy to receive this very important delegation, one decision I have taken before now is that everybody within the environmental stakeholder should meet me because when we’re talking about environmental issues, climate is us, the actions of government is great, so without the people those actions will not have any impact to whatever government is doing. We must continuously engage with the people so that there can be that cross fertilisation of ideas.’’ He said

The Minister also reiterated the Ministry commitment to partnering with the Netherlands in addressing the issues of Climate Change in the Nigeria.

He commended the Netherlands government in supporting the Africa Activist for Climate Change for Justice in championing the issues of climate change in Nigeria.

“ I want to sincerely appreciate the government of Netherlands for supporting the African Activist for Climate Change, particularly for some of the things they are doing in Nigeria. I want to assure you that the Federal Ministry of Environment and indeed government of Nigeria appreciate all the things that you do, we will continue to work with you in partnership, the Federal Minister of Environment is very happy to continuously partner with Netherlands, the activist and of course, our stakeholders within the environmental sector.’’ he said.

Regarding the Climate Change Act, Salako explained that it has been passed and highlighted the need for its effective implementation.

He emphasised that passing the act is just the first step, and the focus should now be on achieving its intended objectives.

“The Climate Change Acts has been passed, I ‘m happy that you’re a part of it for us in the Federal Ministry of Environment it not enough to just pass an Act but we have to action it we have to ensure that what the Act was deigned to achieve, it’s actually achieved and there is a space in the Act for robust contribution for CSO’s and NGO’s, so I want to call on you not to relent in your course but to continuously push to ensure the Bill and Law becomes fully operational.” He explained

Responding to a question on the ban of charcoal export in Nigeria, the minister said the government objective is to ensure that the country increases its capacity for regulatory activities.

Salako said the decision was made to address economic concerns while ensuring responsible and regulated use. He highlighted the importance of regulating activities rather than imposing total bans to maintain a sustainable balance between economics and climate actions.

“I want to assure you that the ban that has been lifted is not adverse to the issues of Climate Change or the Climate Action. It is as a matter of fact to promote our capacity in order to implement the key policies of government and to ensure we’re able to play our role as a regulator of that activity.” He added.

Economics is very important, once people see something as being economically viable, a total ban may not be the sustainable solution to it but a regulation that ensure that things are used responsibly may be a better approach to it and that is the approach that we have decided to take in the Federal Ministry of Environment. The Minister added.

Head of Program Management Unit African Activists for Climate Justice, Mr Benson Simba said that the aim of the visit was to solicit for support from the Ministry in championing the African common position at COP 28 coming up in Dubai in November 2023.

While also commending the Minister in his effort in supporting key factors to advance the work of Climate Change, he appeals to the Minister to champion the Africa course at the COP 28 in the areas of Land Right issues, Environmental Injustices issues and Climate Finance challenges.

Mr Simba also noted that Africa needs more support and greater focus on adaptation.

‘’ Recently, during the African Climate Summit, there was the Nairobi declaration, and we do appreciate the priorities that were raised in the Nairobi declaration, especially the focus on loss, damage, and mitigation.

We think that the Nairobi declaration needs to address substantial aspects of adaptation, and therefore, as we continue our road work to COP 28, this remains one of those key priorities.

“We continue to request you and the other governments in Africa to look at addressing as well, these in line with part of the countries where we are working in, we do look at Community adaptive innovations.

“How are our communities adapting, and therefore we have come up with many innovations, including agricultural innovations.

“And just this coming week on the 16th and 19th, the Pan Africa Climate Justice Alliance together with the partners here, and other governments, the African Union and several other actors, are co hosting, of course together with the government of Nigeria, an Inaugural Conference on Agricultural adaptation here in Nigeria and we are hoping to see our National President here given a key note address’’ He explained.

The African Activist for Climate Justice Project is led by Pan African Climate Justice, “PACJA”, PACJA is a network of more than one thousand organisations from forty-eight countries in Africa,

PACJA unites five dynamic consortium partners, AYC, FEMNET, OXFAM, NOVIB, and NATURAL JUSTICE.

It is based in Kenya and consists of NGO’s grassroots Oragnisation, trust, foundation, indigenous communities, farmers community-based organisation, and religious organization.

 

Shakirat Sadiq