A peace-building organisation known as International Alert carried out a capacity-building workshop to address the growing intersection of climate change and conflict in Nigeria, bringing together civil society groups and government agencies for collaborative action.
The Nigerian Conflict Sensitivity and Climate Adaptation Facility (NC-SAF) workshop, which was a follow-up to the launch of the NC-SAF in November, focused on building capacity among stakeholders to tackle resource-based conflicts exacerbated by climate change.
“Most of the conflicts in Nigeria are resource-based, and climate change is an existential issue we must deal with collectively,” Country Director of International Alert, Dr. Paul Nyulaku-Bemshima said. He emphasised the need to break down silos between organisations working on climate and peace-building initiatives.
The National Publicity Secretary of the Arewa Consultative Forum, Prof. Muhammad Baba, warned of increasing pressures on Nigeria’s population due to dwindling natural resources. He cited challenges in rural and urban areas, including accommodation, water, and electricity access.
“If we are not careful, climate change will lead to conflict that will consume everyone, especially with Nigeria’s rising population,” Baba cautioned. He stressed the importance of understanding the relationship between climate change and conflict, particularly in the Northwest, Northeast, and Central regions.
The Society for Peace Studies and Practice (SPSP) President, Nathaniel Awuapila, called for immediate action on climate change implementation. He urged influential stakeholders who deny climate change to acknowledge its reality, pointing to annual flooding and drought patterns as evidence of its impact.
The initiative seeks to create a multiplier effect in advocacy and policy change by fostering collaboration among organizations previously working independently on climate and peace-building efforts.
The workshop, with the theme “Capacity Building and Strategy Planning Workshop on Conflict Sensitivity and Climate Adaptation Approaches,” was organised with support from Irish Aid to enhance understanding of climate adaptation, mitigation, and conflict sensitivity approaches.
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