Climate advocates in Nigeria have called on world leaders to provide grants—not loans—for climate adaptation in Africa, while urging lawmakers to pass a landmark bill that will strengthen environmental governance and protect vulnerable communities.
At a civil society and media workshop on climate adaptation in Abuja, Dr. Michael David, Executive Director of the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), warned that climate change is crippling agriculture and threatening livelihoods across the continent.
“Recurrent floods, shorter dry spells, and unpredictable rainfall are disrupting farming, driving food inflation, and putting millions at risk,” David said. “Loans are no longer a solution. Africa needs grants, debt cancellation, and direct community support.”
He noted that Africa requires an estimated $53 billion annually for resilient infrastructure, smallholder farming, and food security, stressing that only $11 billion in adaptation financing has reached the continent since 2021.
Alongside the demand for international support, Gloria Agema, Program Director of the Gee Foundation for Social Justice and Development, underscored the importance of the Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA) Bill 2025 currently before the National Assembly.
Describing the bill as “landmark legislation,” she said it would protect ecosystems, guarantee community participation, and safeguard public health. The proposed law seeks to replace the outdated 2004 Environmental Impact Assessment Act, introduce tougher penalties of up to ₦50 million for violators, and establish a new agency to enforce compliance.
Agema urged civil society, citizens, and the media to push for its swift passage, while David emphasized that international financing and domestic legislation must go hand in hand.
“Adaptation and strong environmental governance are inseparable,” David said. “Without urgent action, Africa’s most vulnerable communities will continue to bear the brunt of climate disasters.”
