Nigeria is boosting livelihoods through climate change adaptation by implementing strategies in agriculture, water management and disaster risk reduction.
The Minister of Regional Development (MRD), Mr Abubakar Momoh, said this on Wednesday during the Nigeria Day celebration on the sidelines of the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP) in Belem, Brazil.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the MRD was created in 2024 to formulate and execute plans for fast-tracking regional development across Nigeria.
Momoh said key efforts include promoting climate-smart agriculture like drought-resistant crops and early warning systems, developing flood control and shoreline protection, and using community-led projects to diversify livelihoods beyond agriculture.
These initiatives, he said, are aimed at increasing resilience, improve food security, and secure sustainable livelihoods, particularly for vulnerable populations.
According to him, the plan covers the six regions and the Niger Delta region in Nigeria which will be implemented by the six Regional Development Commissions (RDC) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
“The regions are not immune to climate change. Challenges include drought and desertification, erosion menace, flooding, ocean surge, water pollution, and declining health among others.
“Existing practices like gas flaring, oil spills, and unsustainable energy practices have compounded ecological fragility.
“The plan is aligned with Nigeria’s economy- wide NDC types, that includes- Agriculture Forestry and Other Land Use (AFOLU), Power; Oil and Gas, transport, industry, waste, water, health, education, and circular economy strategies among others.
He said the ministry had determined to guide the regional development commissions and other stakeholders on implementing collective measures to address climate change causal factors and impacts through adaptation, mitigation, and other measures.
Also speaking, Prof. Magnus Onuoha, the Executive Director of the West Africa Green Economic Development Institute (WAGEDI) said the Integrated Climate Action Plan for the Ministry of Regional Development (ICLAP-MRD) would be executed from 2025 to 2030.
According to him, the ICLAP-MRD specific objectives include institutional framework, adaptation and mitigation with the adaptation strategies as key priority while the climate change mitigation as the secondary priority.
“The goal is to develop and implement robust measures to improve the adaptive capacity and resilience of vulnerable communities and settlements.
”The plan emphasises that a low-carbon development strategy is indispensable to sustainable development.
“ The foundational principles and guiding strategy include consistency, sustainable development, energy focus, integration and entrepreneurship.
”The intent is to foster a low-carbon but high-growth economic development path and build a climate-resilient society,” he said.
The executive director explained that the ICLAP-MRD is a multifaceted plan with nine key components working together to achieve the plan’s objectives.
According to him, the key components are – promotion of Climate Smart Agriculture (CSA) and Mariculture, industrial sustainability, renewable, blue economy, inland waterways, renewable, entrepreneurship and technical support, financing and communication strategies.
Onuhoa reiterated that the ICLAP-MRD would provide a strategic roadmap for transitioning Nigeria’s RDC and the NDDC towards a more sustainable and competitive future.
“Implementation requires crucial collaboration between government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), the private sector, development agencies, environmental NGOs, and research institutions.
“It also requires a robust system for monitoring and evaluating progress towards the plan’s goals must be put in place.
“Call to Action (President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Message) -Policy makers, legislators, the private sector, academics, civil society, development practitioners, and partners are encouraged to avail themselves of this worthy depository of knowledge which ICLAP-MRD offers.
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