Climate Action Strategies, Practices and Initiatives: Challenges and Opportunities for Locally-led Adaptation in Nigeria

This research paper by the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI) evaluates Nigeria's climate change adaptation policy landscape and the role of locally-led adaptation. It analyzes the alignment between national frameworks, such as the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and National Adaptation Plan (NAP), and the iterative, indigenous practices used by local communities to build resilience. The paper identifies significant gaps in financing, capacity, and stakeholder inclusion while highlighting the potential for scaling community-led Nature-based Solutions (NbS).

• Nigeria's climate policy is guided by the National Climate Change Policy: 2021-2030, which aims to "promote a low-carbon, climate-resilient and gender-responsive sustainable socio-economic development."
• The Nigerian government has identified thirteen priority sectors for adaptation actions, including agriculture, forests, biodiversity, health and sanitation, and energy, among others.
• Despite a lack of awareness of national policies, local communities employ organized adaptation strategies based on indigenous knowledge that align with national goals. Examples include: - In Owode, Ogun State, women are converting agricultural residues into biogas to reduce dependence on fuelwood. - In Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, fish farmers use deeper boreholes, groundwater treatment, and bitter leaf juice as a natural antibiotic. - In Abatete Town, Anambra State, farmers use Nature-based Solutions (NbS) such as planting erosion-resistant trees and using periwinkle and palm kernel shells for erosion control.
• The implementation of Nigeria's Adaptation Policy Frameworks (APFs) is hindered by four primary gaps: financial resources, capacity building, technology development and use, and the alignment of policy with regional needs.
• A "top-down approach" to climate mainstreaming has excluded critical stakeholders from decision-making, including women, persons with disabilities, civil society organisations (CSOs), indigenous people, and local governments.
• Climate change is causing significant economic loss in Nigeria, currently estimated at 5% of GDP, with a potential increase to 30% by 2050 if urgent action is not taken.
• The 2022 floods in Nigeria were the worst since 2012, resulting in over 800 deaths, the displacement of approximately 1.5 million people, and the destruction of about 332,237 hectares of farmlands.

APA

Okeke, C. U., Butu, H. M., & Okereke, C. (2023). Climate Action Strategies, Practices and Initiatives: Challenges and Opportunities for Locally-led Adaptation in Nigeria. Africa Policy Research Institute. https://afripoli.org/climate-action-strategies-practices-and-initiatives-challenges-and-opportunities-for-locally-led-adaptation-in-nigeria

Chicago

Okeke, Chukwueloka Udechukwu, Hemen Mark Butu, and Chukwumerije Okereke. Climate Action Strategies, Practices and Initiatives: Challenges and Opportunities for Locally-led Adaptation in Nigeria. Africa Policy Research Institute, 2023. https://afripoli.org/climate-action-strategies-practices-and-initiatives-challenges-and-opportunities-for-locally-led-adaptation-in-nigeria.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Okeke |first1=Chukwueloka Udechukwu |last2=Butu |first2=Hemen Mark |last3=Okereke |first3=Chukwumerije |title=Climate Action Strategies, Practices and Initiatives: Challenges and Opportunities for Locally-led Adaptation in Nigeria |publisher=Africa Policy Research Institute |date=15 March 2023 |url=https://afripoli.org/climate-action-strategies-practices-and-initiatives-challenges-and-opportunities-for-locally-led-adaptation-in-nigeria |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{okeke2023climate, author = {Okeke, Chukwueloka Udechukwu and Butu, Hemen Mark and Okereke, Chukwumerije}, title = {{Climate Action Strategies, Practices and Initiatives: Challenges and Opportunities for Locally-led Adaptation in Nigeria}}, institution = {Africa Policy Research Institute}, year = {2023}, month = mar, url = {https://afripoli.org/climate-action-strategies-practices-and-initiatives-challenges-and-opportunities-for-locally-led-adaptation-in-nigeria}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }