68 Years of Fossil Fuel Extraction: How Climate Change has Transformed the Niger Delta into a Disaster Zone – Insights from Experts

Experts and organizations focused on climate change met in Abuja on Monday, urging action to tackle Nigeria’s pressing environmental challenges. The event, known as the ‘2nd Nigeria Socio-Ecological Alternatives Convergence,’ highlighted the need for effective solutions.

Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, Director of the Home for Mother’s Earth Foundation, pointed out the dire state of the Niger Delta after decades of fossil fuel extraction, which has turned the area into a disaster zone. He described how unchecked mining and pollution leave lasting scars on the land, affecting its communities.

“The social and environmental threads of Nigeria are stretched thin,” Dr. Bassey said, referencing a mix of local and global crises. Issues like exploitation, conflicts, and climate chaos threaten the stability of the nation.

He called for urgent measures, stating, “Waiting before acting is a luxury we cannot afford.” The environmental challenges facing Nigeria deserve immediate attention and collective solutions beyond political maneuvers.

Professor Emmanuel Oladipo, a climatologist from Ahmadu Bello University, highlighted the government’s struggle to implement cohesive environmental policies. “The various policies need to be integrated with actionable plans,” he explained. Monitoring these plans is essential for any meaningful change.

Prof. Oladipo emphasized that while we can’t stop climate change, we can develop strategies to lessen its impact. He also echoed the call for declaring an emergency in key areas of the economy, noting that over 80 million Nigerians live in multidimensional poverty.

He advocates for understanding the root causes of Nigeria’s problems to create effective programs that address them. A key aspect is managing the environment responsibly to avoid further degradation.

Oba Oluwambe Ojagbohunmi from Ayetoro shared firsthand accounts of how climate change has devastated his community. He reported that ocean surges have washed away 80% of his town, which has been facing extinction since 1995 due to oil exploration and climate impacts.

The dire situation in Nigeria reflects broader global trends. According to a 2022 report from the Global Climate Risk Index, Nigeria ranks among the countries most affected by climate change impacts. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and resource exploitation threaten not just local environments but people’s livelihoods and homes.

With 60% of Nigeria’s population dependent on agriculture, the impacts of deforestation, desertification, and pollution pose significant risks. Collective, well-coordinated action is essential now more than ever to safeguard the future of both the environment and the people who depend on it.

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