Policy Challenges of Climate Changeand Adaptation in Northern Nigeria
African Technology Policy Studies Network

TECHNOPOLICY BRIEF | No. 34
Blessing Kaletapwa Farauta
Chukwudumebi Leticia Egbule
Yusuf Lawan Idrisa
Victoria Chinwe Agu

Policy Challenges of Climate Change andAdaptation in Northern Nigeria

Blessing Kaletapwa Farauta
Federal University of Technology, Nigeria
Chukwudumebi Leticia Egbule
University of Nigeria, Nigeria
Yusuf Lawan Idrisa
University of Maiduguri, Nigeria
Victoria, Chinwe Agu
Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, Nigeria

The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) is a multidisciplinary network of researchers, private sector actors andpolicy makers promoting the generation, dissemination, use andmastery of science, technology and innovation (ST&I) for African
development, environmental sustainability and global inclusion.
ATPS intends to achieve its mandate through research, capacity
building and training, science communication/dissemination andsensitization, participatory multi-stakeholder dialogue,knowledge brokerage, and policy advocacy.
Published by the African Technology Policy Studies Network
P O Box 10081, 00100 GPO Nairobi Kenya2012

Published by the African Technology Policy Studies Network

ISBN: 978-9966-030-32-0

Table of Contents
Acknowledgement

4Introduction

5

Main Findings

5What Is The way Forward?

7

Policy Advocacy Recommendations

8

Policy Challenges of Climate Change and Adaptation in Northern Nigeria | 3

Acknowledgement
This report was produced as part of the implementation of the ATPS Phase VI
Strategic Plan, 2008-2012 funded by ATPS Donors including the Ministerie van
Buitenlandse Zaken (DGIS) the Netherlands, and the Rockefeller Foundation,
amongst others. The authors hereby thank the ATPS for the financial andtechnical support during the implementation of the program. The Authors
specially thank the ATPS Climate Sense Program Director, Dr. Kevin Urama(ATPS); and the Program Coordinators including Prof. Francis Mutua (ATPSKenya); Dr. George Essegbey (ATPS Ghana), Prof. Eric Eboh (ATPS Nigeria), Dr.
Nicholas Ozor (ATPS), and Ms. Wairimu Mwangi (ATPS) for their technicalsupport during the research process.

4 | Policy Challenges of Climate Change and Adaptation in Northern Nigeria

Introduction
Northern Nigeria is a region particularly prone to climate change because of its
proximity to the desert and increasing industrial and agricultural activities. Thepresences of sand dunes, massive loss of vegetative ecosystems among otherfactors are indicators of a changing climate in the region.
The agricultural sector and the economy of the region are highly threatened if thetrend continues unabated without the introduction and continuous use ofadaptive measures. To promote innovative climate change adaptation strategies,
it is important to seek answers to the following questions that have policy
implications:a) Are there policies that promote climate change adaptation in northern
Nigeria?
b) What problems emanate from the changing climate in the area under study?
c) How much knowledge do farmers in northern Nigeria possess on climatechange?
d) Are there emerging adaptation measures available to farmers in northern
Nigeria?
e) Where do farmers in northern Nigeria source information on climatechange?
The fact that there is an urgent need to formulate, promote and implement
policies on climate change adaptation cannot be under estimated. Formulationand implementation of policies on climate change is likely to minimise thenegative impacts of the changing climate on farmers. This will also strengthen
farmers' awareness on climate change adaptation measures and enhanceavailability and accessibility of information in the region.

Main Findings
1.

Are there policies that promote climate change adaptation innorthern Nigeria?
a) Nigeria has many policies, strategies and plans that can help address
general adaptation measures in some climate change vulnerable sectors such as
agriculture, water resources, forests and ecosystems, and coastal marine
Policy Challenges of Climate Change and Adaptation in Northern Nigeria | 5

environment. However, the policy framework is largely undeveloped in thecountry when we consider its alignment to human development and climatechange response efforts through adaptation.
b) The closest to having an acceptable adaptation response framework inNigeria is a working document on Adaptation Strategies of Action prepared byHenrich BÖll Foundation (HBS) for the Special Climate Change Unit (SCCU) of
the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Nationally Designated Authority forclimate change in Nigeria. But there is no clear indication that the document has
been adopted as a national plan of action. There are many climate actors in thecountry, but there is no platform or framework within which all the actors canoperate in a coordinated manner for meaningful impact. A number of ongoing
initiatives by different actors remain largely un-coordinated by the nationallydesignated climate change authority1.
2.

What problems emanate from the changing climate in thearea under study?
Diverse problems are associated with the changing climate situation. Findings
have shown that increased cost of farm inputs, poor crop yields, increase in pest
attack and weed infestation are some of the problems arising due to climatechange. Combating these problems will require governments' interest in
strengthening the existing research institutions. Research should be on goingand efforts emanating from these activities should be made available andaccessible to farmers.
3.

How much knowledge do farmers in northern Nigeria
possess on climate change?
As revealed from the research findings, there is a high level of climate change
awareness in northern Nigeria. A great proportion, comprising up to 84 per centof farmers attested to the fact that they were aware of the changing climate. Whatneeds to be addressed is to what extent these farmers really possess knowledgeof the effects of climate change.

1

Refer to the report:
http://www.boellnigeria.org/downloads/Nigeria_Prof_Oladipo_final_ CGA_study.pdf.

6 | Policy Challenges of Climate Change and Adaptation in Northern Nigeria

4.

Are there emerging adaptation measures available tofarmers in northern Nigeria?
A number of emerging adaptation measures are available to farmers. These
include planting of early maturing crops, use of resistant varieties, processing tominimize post harvest losses and use of chemicals such as pesticides andfertilizers. In other words, farmers have a huge capacity for adaptation. However,what they need in terms of adding to their capacity to adapt is infrastructure,funding, and proper planning and also not to completely rely on the predictions
that have been made in the past. In line with this, efforts should be geared towards
ensuring that new measures for climate change adaptation are generated. This
will help to strengthen the indigenous measures.
5.

Where do farmers in northern Nigeria source information on
climate change?
Information is sourced majorly from the mass media. It is true that the mass media
have an advantage of reaching a large audience at a time, but these channels
have not been at the fore front of agricultural information dissemination. A reason
for this is the commercialization of the mass media channels of informationdelivery. To overcome this limitation, there is need for partnership between
government and NGOs to spear head access to information on climate change.

What Is The Way Forward?
Having identified these areas of policy needs as regards climate change, it isparamount to suggest possible answers to these needs. The United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) strengthens theinternational response to climate change, and promotes the Convention'sultimate objective of preventing "dangerous anthropogenic [human-made]interference with the climate system". Hence, it is important that the national bodywhich has the mandate on climate change issues realize the need to enact
policies addressing climate change and adaptation and support research
institutions towards generation of more innovative ways of adaptation. Also,government and civil society organizations should collaborate on disseminationof appropriate information on climate change (as it regards both problems
associated with climate change and promotion of new adaptation measures).
Policy Challenges of Climate Change and Adaptation in Northern Nigeria | 7

Policy Advocacy Recommendations
1) There is need for Nigeria to partner with international agencies that can help
build capacities in relevant government agencies at all levels (national, state,local) to strengthen the country's capacity to develop and implement adaptation
response strategies and plans that would reduce her vulnerability to the impactsof climate change.
2) There is need for government to make concrete efforts to ensure thatappropriate policy on climate change adaptations and mitigations are enacted.
3) Building adaptive responses to climate change is a gradual process. Efforts
should be placed on grounds to ensure that the indigenous people are carriedalong in the design and formulation of policies on climate change.
4) There is need for Nigeria to address a number of policy limitations that havebeen pointed out in this report. Significant effort needs to be made to develop
further policies designed to strengthen Nigeria's climate change adaptation
governance.

8 | Policy Challenges of Climate Change and Adaptation in Northern Nigeria

The African Technology Policy Studies Network (ATPS) is a multidisciplinary network of researchers, private sector actors andpolicy makers promoting the generation, dissemination, use andmastery of science, technology and innovation (ST&I) for African
development, environmental sustainability and global inclusion.
ATPS intends to achieve its mandate through research, capacity
building and training, science communication/dissemination andsensitization, participatory multi-stakeholder dialogue,knowledge brokerage, and policy advocacy.

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ISBN: 978-9966-030-32-0