Environmental experts in the Niger Delta region have said the region is grappling with rising sea levels and coastal erosion, resulting in loss of lives, properties, and heightened insecurity.
The crisis has sparked concerns among experts, who warn of impending national conflicts if left unchecked.
In a two-day expert meeting convened by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) and Friedrich Ebert Stiftung shed light on the extent of catastrophic impact of climate change in Nigeria’s Niger Delta and West Africa.
The meeting underscored the urgent need for collective action to address the climate crisis in the Niger Delta as experts warned that rising sea levels and coastal erosion will exacerbate flooding, erosion, and insecurity, threatening national stability.
Speaking to newsmen, Dr. Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of HOMEF, emphasized the need for a comprehensive environmental audit of the Niger Delta.
“We need to carry out a comprehensive audit of the environment in the Niger Delta, as was done in Bayelsa state. We must clean up the entire region to salvage it from final destruction,” he stressed.
He said the meeting was prompted by a research report conducted by HOMEF in communities across Nigeria, Togo, and Senegal. The report provides a blueprint for policy-making and a template for government action.
Bassey noted that the report has been presented to security agencies and research institutions for implementation.
He advocated for supporting communities in fishing and stopping pollution. “People are not lazy in this region; they need a conducive environment to thrive. Government can establish fish ports, provide storage facilities, and boost the economy.”
Bassey called on the government to invest in the welfare of the people, assisting them to withstand the climate crisis.
He said: “Government should provide strategic environmental projects and welfare support to help communities cope with the impacts of climate change.”
Also, Former Nigerian Ambassador to Ethiopia, Nkoyo Toyo, sounded the alarm, citing the alarming rise of criminality linked to climate change.
She warned that the crisis is fueling criminality, exploiting natural resources, and disproportionately affecting women.
She highlighted the disproportionate impact on women, particularly in rural areas.
She said: “Women are shouldering the burden, from fish processing to struggling to recover from destruction. Climate change exacerbates gender inequality, forcing children out of school and into trading.”
Meanwhile, Ijeoma Oladela, Executive Director of Environmental Conflict Mediation and Women’s Development Initiative, emphasized the need for a unified approach.
She said: “Citizens and government must join forces to mitigate climate change. Existing policies must be implemented, and individuals must reduce their environmental footprint.”