The Federal Government has warned that climate change poses a growing threat to food security, livelihoods and national security, urging Nigerians to embrace climate action and sustainable practices to mitigate its impact.
The Director of the Department of Climate Change at the Federal Ministry of Environment, Iniobong Abiola-Awe, stated this on Thursday during a dialogue organised for secondary school students by the C-Circle Foundation to commemorate the 2026 World Environment Day.
Represented by the Principal Scientific Officer in the department, Mrs Dolapo John-Akhigbe, Abiola-Awe, said climate change remained the defining challenge of the current generation, with far-reaching consequences for human existence.
She said, “Climate change is the defining challenge of our generation. Rising global temperatures, extreme weather events, biodiversity loss and environmental degradation threaten every aspect of human life, from food security and water availability to health, livelihoods and national security.”
According to her, Nigeria remains disproportionately vulnerable to the effects of climate change despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions.
“Nigeria, like many developing nations, is disproportionately vulnerable to these climate impacts despite contributing minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions. Yet, in this challenge lies an unprecedented opportunity — the opportunity to reimagine our economies, reshape our industries and reorient our societies toward sustainability,” she said.
Abiola-Awe said Nigeria had committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 29 per cent unconditionally and by 52 per cent with international support by 2030, while targeting net-zero emissions by 2060.
She also highlighted government interventions, including the Climate Change Act 2021, the Energy Transition Plan, the Great Green Wall Initiative and the National Adaptation Plan, aimed at building resilience and promoting low-carbon development.
Addressing students participating in the competition, she urged young Nigerians to become champions of climate action.
“To our students and participants in today’s debate and dialogue: you are not just the leaders of tomorrow; you are the agents of change today. Your voices matter. Your ideas are powerful. Your generation has the creativity, energy and moral conviction to drive the transformation our world so urgently needs,” she said.
Speaking earlier, the organiser of the event and Executive Director of C-Circle Foundation for Sustainable Health and Environment, Dr Chimere Ohajinwa, said the annual competition was designed to raise awareness about environmental issues among young people.
“The idea is to raise awareness on environmental issues. Every year, we do this in commemoration of World Environment Day. The theme for this year is climate change and a sustainable future,” she said.
Ohajinwa noted that the effects of climate change were already being felt across the country through rising temperatures, irregular rainfall patterns, flooding and drought.
“We’re already experiencing it. There is an increase in temperature. The rainfall is no longer the way it used to be. We are having flooding. We are having issues. If you’re having flooding, there may be drought as well,” she said.
According to her, climate change is worsening existing socio-economic challenges, particularly in the agricultural sector.
“The grasses are not growing the way they’re supposed to grow. Then it’s causing farmers and herders to have clashes. They are fighting themselves. That also means that food inflation is increasing because people who are supposed to farm for us are being displaced from their homes and are now living in IDP camps,” she said.
Ohajinwa explained that this year’s event departed from the traditional debate format and adopted dialogue to encourage learning and collective problem-solving.
“This year is not going to be a debate. It’s going to be a dialogue. It’s a special edition because climate change and a sustainable future is not what we are going to be debating. It’s about raising awareness. It’s about you understanding what you’re doing,” she said.
She said the platform was also intended to improve students’ public speaking skills while helping them understand the relationship between environmental degradation, public health and food systems.
“This platform is set up to increase public speaking. Even while we are raising awareness on environment and health, we are also discussing how our environment affects our health, how it’s affecting our food system and how it’s affecting us, even though we pretend not to notice it,” she added.
Ohajinwa further blamed human activities for some of the environmental challenges confronting the country, urging Nigerians to adopt responsible waste disposal practices and environmental stewardship.
The programme was held in Abuja as part of activities marking the 2026 World Environment Day, with students drawn from different schools to participate in a climate change dialogue organised by the C-Circle Foundation.
The event brought together government representatives and environmental experts to sensitise young people on the growing impact of climate change on food systems, livelihoods and national security in Nigeria.
Climate change has become one of the most pressing global challenges, with rising temperatures, extreme weather events, flooding, drought and environmental degradation affecting economies and livelihoods worldwide.
In Nigeria, the impacts are increasingly evident through changing rainfall patterns, desertification, food insecurity and displacement of communities.
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