•Abubakar Momoh
The Minister of Regional Development, Abubakar Momoh, has raised concerns over the devastating impact of climate change on coastal communities in the Niger Delta, warning that it is exacerbating social, economic, and environmental challenges in the region.
Momoh noted that these effects have contributed to frequent communal clashes and rising youth criminality, reports The Nation.
He made these remarks in Abuja while hosting key stakeholders from the Academic Associates Peace Works (AAPW) group, who are studying climate change impacts in West Africa and Nigeria.
According to a statement issued today by the ministry’s Head of Information and Public Relations, Abdulrashid Y. Safana, the minister emphasised the importance of strategic partnerships for regional development.
He highlighted recent interventions, including a collaboration between the ministry and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to construct high embankments aimed at mitigating flood risks caused by rising water levels.
Momoh added that the measure was also intended to open-up some water channels to improve inter-communal communication and bring about increased economic activities.
The minister enjoined the AAPW to partner with the relevant development commission to address climate, environmental and other challenges outlined in their brief.
He not d that the resources for addressing the regions’ developmental challenges are domiciled with the various Regional Development Commissions, adding that “the role of his ministry is strictly supervisory.”
The minister advised the organisation to include in its recommendations, ways and means to explore the huge potentials in the carbon market; how to access ‘climate finance’, how to tap into the ‘green economy,’ probably, by way of engaging in ‘shrimp business’; and other similar businesses that can potentially engage the people and reduce restiveness among the youths.
Earlier in his presentation, the leader of the team, Air Commodore Darlington Abdullahi (rtd), revealed that the brief being presented touched on recommendations on climate change, which are aimed at enhancing interventions by various ministries, departments, and agencies.
He explained that the recommendations are based on a three-year project carried out on the theme “Coping with Climate Change as a Cause of Conflict in Coastal Communities of West African” (C7 WA), by a consortium of four partners with sponsorship by the European Union (EU) – the Italian Shipping Academy Foundation (FAIMM), Academic Associates PeaceWorks (AAPW), Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), and West African Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP).
Abdullahi (rtd) revealed the existential threat climate change has continue to pose on the global system, “evident by the growing crisis across the world, the Sahel Region, and Northern Nigeria through desertification and in the South South through seasonal flooding”.
These, he said, are the cause of persistent violent conflicts witnessed across the country due to its impacts on lives, means of livelihood, property, and the environment.
He called for quick intervention measures to be put in place “with a view to saving lives and property, enhance peace and security and create the right environment for sustainable development,” most especially in the Niger Delta.
Abdullahi was accompanied on the visit by, amongst others, the National Woman Leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), Dr. Princess Peters
The AAPW is a Nigerian non-governmental organisation founded in 1992 with over three decades of experience in peacebuilding and governance, having worked extensively in Nigeria and Ghana.
The organisation has 26 years of direct engagement in the Niger Delta, amassing significant local knowledge and expertise in the region’s social, economic, and environmental dynamics in the process.
Also speaking, AAPW’s Senior Communications Officer, Success Nwanedo, expressed gratitude to the minister for his support.
The AAPW is one of the organizations pioneering the “coping with climate change as a cause of conflict in coastal communities of West Africa (C7-WA)” initiative, meant to address the challenges of climate change and conflicts in vulnerable coastal regions.
The C7-WA is designed to empower West African coastal communities through developing innovative, conflict-sensitive tools for climate change adaptation.
It implements measures to prevent environmental crimes that exacerbate the effects of climate change and establish robust mechanisms to monitor climate change as a driver of conflict, thereby reducing vulnerabilities and fostering sustainable development.
