Climate advocates in Nigeria have urged world leaders to provide grants rather than loans for climate adaptation projects across Africa, warning that continued borrowing will only deepen the continent’s debt crisis while leaving farmers vulnerable to worsening climate shocks.
Speaking at a civil society and media workshop on climate adaptation in Abuja, Dr Michael David, Executive Director of the Global Initiative for Free, Prior and Informed Consent (GIFSEP), said climate change is already crippling agriculture, disrupting food systems, and threatening millions of livelihoods.
“Recurrent floods, shorter dry spells, and unpredictable rainfall are driving food inflation and putting millions at risk,” David warned.
“Loans are no longer a solution. What Africa needs are grants, debt cancellation, and direct support for communities.”
He noted that Africa requires an estimated $53 billion annually to build resilient infrastructure, strengthen smallholder farmers, and achieve food sovereignty.
Yet, only $11 billion in adaptation finance has reached the continent since 2021, which he described as “far too small considering the scale of the crisis.”
David stressed that adaptation financing must prioritise mitigation, adding, “We cannot continue borrowing for projects that climate disasters wipe out while our people remain saddled with debt. There should be zero loans for climate adaptation.”
Alongside global appeals, advocates are also pressing for stronger domestic governance.
Gloria Agema, Program Director of the Gee Foundation for Social Justice and Development, called for the urgent passage of the Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA) Bill 2025, before Nigeria’s National Assembly.
“In an age where sustainability is paramount, the ESHIA Bill is a landmark piece of legislation,” Agema said.
“It protects ecosystems, ensures informed community participation, and guarantees that development will not compromise public health or the environment.”
The bill will replace the outdated 2004 Environmental Impact Assessment Act with stricter provisions, including penalties of N10 million to N50 million for violators.
It also proposes a new national agency to monitor compliance, introduces disaster risk reduction measures, and embeds international best practices such as Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for affected communities.
Agema emphasised that civil society organisations, citizens, and the media must unite to ensure its passage: “It is our duty to make sure this bill does not sit on a shelf.
Strong oversight and accountability are the keys to protecting lives and aligning Nigeria’s development with global standards.”
Dr David concluded that international financing and strong domestic legislation must work together to shield Africa from worsening climate impacts; “Adaptation and strong environmental governance are inseparable. Without urgent action, Africa’s most vulnerable communities will keep suffering the worst impacts of climate disasters. The future of our children depends on the choices we make today.”
Source: This Day
Image Credit: National Council on Climate Change
