FG says Climate Adaptation is Critical to Breaking Conflict Cycle in Fragile States
The Federal Government has stated that climate adaptation is critical to breaking the conflict cycle in fragile states, noting that its exclusion from peacebuilding strategies could lead to prolonged insecurity.
Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Salihu Usman, while declaring open the Peer Learning Forum on National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Processes in Conflict-Affected Countries, disclosed that it would be a mistake to ignore medium- and long-term adaptation needs in peacebuilding contexts. “Conflict-affected states also need to adapt to the impacts of climate change,” he added._
The three-day forum, running from May 5-7, 2026, is co-hosted with the NAP Global Network and has drawn policymakers and experts from Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Liberia, Mali, Somalia, and South Sudan to share knowledge on implementing adaptation strategies in fragile settings.
Usman directly linked insecurity in Nigeria to climate change, citing farmer-herder crises, cattle rustling, and banditry as threats worsened by rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and environmental degradation.
“While climate change and conflict are often compounding challenges, adapting to the impacts of climate change can be an effective way of breaking this cycle by improving social well-being and addressing root drivers of fragility,” he said. He stressed that adaptation strategies must be implemented _“through the ‘eye’ of conflict sensitivity”_ because Nigeria’s NAP implementation will reach conflict-prone areas.
The Permanent Secretary stated further that Nigeria’s NAP, supported by the Green Climate Fund, is in its final stage of completion having been validated through a participatory and transparent process.
He added that a key component was the nationwide Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment conducted to identify community vulnerabilities and adaptation options.
Usman explained that under its updated Nationally Determined Contribution 3.0, Nigeria committed to 47% Green House Gas emissions reduction with international support, while making provisions for adaptation aligned with the NAP.
Earlier, Director, Department of Climate Change, Dr. (Mrs) Iniobong Abiola-Awe, said extreme weather events and climate variability are already impacting key sectors, infrastructure, and biodiversity in Nigeria, with effects _“projected to become even more severe under future climate change scenarios.”_
She stressed that while mitigation efforts continue, adaptation remains critical to adjust systems and operations _“without affecting our daily activities nor jeopardizing our security.”_
Dr. Abiola-Awe added that Nigeria’s NAP was developed through a fully inclusive and transparent process that embeds peacebuilding considerations into both planning and implementation, and urged that conflict-sensitivity be factored into adaptation and development plans at all levels.
Also addressing participants, Alec Crawford, Director of Nature for Resilience at the International Institute for Sustainable Development, (IISD) which hosts the NAP Global Network, said the link between climate risks, war and conflict is no longer abstract.
He noted that in conflict-affected contexts, adaptation competes with urgent priorities for _“funding, attention and political capital,”_ and requires coordination across parts of government that do not always work closely together.
Crawford explained that the NAP Global Network has supported Nigeria and the Central African Republic to integrate conflict sensitivity into climate risk assessments by examining how climate risks interact with local tensions, displacement patterns, and resource access. _“Adaptation in fragile contexts is not a secondary issue — climate resilience is central to development trajectories,”_ he said.
He thanked the Government of Ireland for providing financial support through Irish Aid that made the event possible, and stressed that the forum aims to have an honest discussion about where processes have stalled and trade-offs have been difficult.
Usman reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to global climate obligations, including the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Kyoto Protocol, and Paris Agreement.
He commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Environment Minister, Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, for their leadership, and also praised the Department of Climate Change staff for organizing the event.
He welcomed international participants and urged meaningful contributions _“in our march towards a cleaner, healthier and safer environment.”_
