Researchers and Others Call for Climate‑Change Policy Reforms

Hammed Shittu in Ilorin

Researchers, policymakers, development practitioners and community stakeholders have urged urgent policy reforms to strengthen climate resilience, food security and livelihood protection for rural residents in Kwara State and across Nigeria.

They argue that such reforms would significantly address the country’s food shortages and promote socio‑economic growth.

The discussion, titled “Strengthening Climate Resilience, Food Systems, and Livelihood Security in Kwara State through Evidence‑Informed Policy Action,” aimed to develop research‑based policy adaptation and sustainable livelihood strategies for the state’s rural communities.

Professor Andrew Onwuemele, a lead researcher from the Nigeria Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) in Ibadan, Oyo State, presented findings from the PALM‑TREEs Project. He highlighted increasing vulnerability of rural communities to drought, flooding, food insecurity, weak climate information systems, declining agricultural productivity and livelihood disruptions.

He noted, “The study also found that access to early warning information among vulnerable communities remained very low, limiting preparedness and response to climate shocks.”

Professor Onwuemele identified two main causes of flooding in Kwara State: the overflow of the River Niger into communities and the release of excess water from Kanji Dam and Jebba Dam. He recommended that a committee work with relevant institutions to manage dam releases, ensuring that affected communities receive advance communication and that water is released in phased intervals rather than all at once to minimize impact.

He also stressed that most farmers who need climate and early warning information lack access to it, despite regular releases by NIMET. He suggested that NIMET, in partnership with the Kwara State Ministry of Environment, produce information in local languages and digital formats so that extension agents can disseminate it through local community radios.

Stakeholders called for the establishment of a coordinated climate risk governance framework, expansion of climate‑smart agriculture and irrigation systems, strengthening of agricultural extension services, improvement of climate‑sensitive social protection systems, and increased investment in climate‑resilient water infrastructure and food systems.

Participants affirmed the policy recommendations derived from the study findings and emphasized the need for stronger institutional coordination, evidence‑informed policymaking and sustained collaboration to enhance climate resilience and sustainable development in Kwara State.