Nigerian Climate Advocates Urge Global Grants, Debt Relief, and Stricter Environmental Laws for a Sustainable Future

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

In Nigeria, climate advocates are making it clear: grants, not loans, are essential for climate adaptation in Africa. They are also calling on local lawmakers to pass a vital environmental bill to protect communities and ecosystems.

At a workshop in Abuja, Dr. Michael David, Executive Director of the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), highlighted the dire consequences of climate change. He stated that agriculture is suffering, and livelihoods are threatened across the continent. “Frequent floods, unpredictable rainfall, and shorter dry spells are disrupting farming and increasing food prices,” he said. “Loans are not the answer. Africa needs grants, debt cancellation, and direct community support.”

Dr. David pointed out that Africa needs around $53 billion annually to improve infrastructure, support smallholder farmers, and ensure food security. “We must stop borrowing money for adaptation projects that disasters ruin while our people remain in debt. We need zero loans for climate adaptation,” he asserted.

Since 2021, just $11 billion in adaptation finance has reached Africa, a figure Dr. David described as far too low given the climate crisis. He urged for a shift in funding focus from mitigation to adaptation, emphasizing, “To survive climate change, we must adapt, and that requires the right financial support.”

Gloria Agema, Program Director of the Gee Foundation for Social Justice and Development, echoed these sentiments. She stressed the need for solid domestic governance through the Environmental, Social, and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA) Bill 2025, currently in the National Assembly. “This bill is critical for sustainability,” she said. “It protects ecosystems, involves communities, and ensures development does not harm public health or the environment.”

The ESHIA Bill aims to replace the outdated 2004 Environmental Impact Assessment Act with stricter penalties and create a national agency for oversight. It includes important practices like Free, Prior, and Informed Consent for communities, enhancing accountability in development projects.

Agema called on civil society organizations, citizens, and the media to unite for the swift passage of the bill. “We must ensure this bill becomes law. Strong oversight is vital to protecting lives and aligning Nigeria’s development with global standards,” she stated.

Dr. David also stressed that international funding must be matched with robust in-country legislation to combat the effects of climate change. “Adaptation and effective environmental governance go hand in hand. Without immediate action, Africa’s vulnerable communities will continue to endure the worst consequences of climate-related disasters. The choices we make today shape our children’s future,” he concluded.

As climate changes reshape the world, advocacy efforts in Nigeria reflect a growing urgency. With such clear calls for action, the hope is that significant steps will be taken to protect both people and the planet.

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