On the Climate Fact File program, hosted by Ify Onyekwere on People’s 105.5FM Abuja, Nigeria, Amb Usman Bashir Shagari, National Speaker of the National Youth Assembly of Nigeria (NYAN) and Climate Action Advocate, discussed the role of Nigerian youth in climate action and policy implementation. He emphasized that while policy-making is the government’s responsibility, the people, especially the youth, must assist in its implementation. He pointed out that Nigeria’s status as a signatory to the Paris Agreement is not enough; state governments need to develop their own climate policies to facilitate effective implementation.
Amb Shagari highlighted the importance of public awareness in addressing climate change. He noted that many citizens may not recognize the severity of the crisis, but the government, being well-informed, has a duty to educate them and introduce preventive measures. He warned that if urgent action is not taken, Nigeria will continue to experience devastating climate-related disasters. Flooding, for instance, remains a significant threat, as seen in the recent floods in Maiduguri that displaced many people and caused economic losses.
Reflecting on the recent COP29 conference, Amb Shagari expressed dissatisfaction with some of the outcomes. He criticized the tendency of developing countries to approach such summits with a primary focus on financial gains rather than genuine climate action. He also lamented the lack of adequate youth representation from Nigeria at COP29, stating that most young attendees participated independently, limiting the influence of the youth. He urged the government to involve youth in the official delegation for COP30 in Brazil, allowing them to contribute meaningfully to global climate discussions.
Amb Shagari stressed that climate action should not be limited to addressing existing problems but should also focus on prevention. He underscored the potential of technology in mitigating climate crises and called on the government to support youth-led climate peace initiatives. Such initiatives, he argued, would encourage greater youth participation in climate action and drive lasting change in Nigeria’s environmental policies.
Click here to read related post
