The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) has called on policymakers to embed climate resilience into peacebuilding, development planning and environmental governance as part of efforts to address worsening insecurity and livelihood losses across the Niger Delta.
Gatekeepers News reports that the organisation made the appeal on Tuesday during a policy roundtable on advancing climate resilience, climate-sensitive peacebuilding and human security held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
The event brought together policymakers, government agencies, development partners, environmental experts, researchers, civil society organisations, private sector stakeholders, peacebuilding practitioners and representatives of climate-vulnerable communities.
At the meeting, PIND unveiled a policy brief on climate change and human security in the Niger Delta, warning that flooding, coastal erosion, irregular rainfall and environmental degradation are disrupting agriculture and fishing, threatening livelihoods and increasing competition over shrinking natural resources.
Speaking on behalf of PIND Executive Director, Sam Daibo, the organisation’s Peacebuilding Programme Manager, David Udofia, said climate change should no longer be regarded solely as an environmental issue because of its growing impact on livelihoods, peace and human security.
“When farms are flooded, fishing waters are degraded, mangroves are destroyed and families lose their sources of income, the consequences extend far beyond the environment.
“These pressures can deepen poverty, increase displacement, aggravate community grievances and intensify competition over scarce resources. We must therefore integrate climate resilience into peacebuilding and development planning.”
Participants explored strategies to protect climate-sensitive livelihoods, strengthen community adaptation, improve environmental governance and prevent climate-related risks from escalating existing conflicts.
PIND also demonstrated its newly deployed Climate Data Filter on the Niger Delta Peace Map, a platform designed to integrate climate information into conflict analysis and early warning systems.
According to the organisation, the tool will help policymakers and peacebuilding practitioners identify emerging risks, improve anticipatory responses and make evidence-based decisions.
Amiefamonyo Ongiri, Director of Relief and Rehabilitation at the Bayelsa State Emergency Management Agency (BYSEMA), stressed the need for stronger collaboration among governments, communities, development partners and the private sector to address climate-related security challenges.
“No institution can address the climate-security challenge alone.
“The evidence presented today reinforces the need for stronger coordination, better use of data and greater investment in locally led adaptation. The recommendations from this roundtable provide a practical foundation for collective action.”
Representing affected communities, Ebijimi Olugbenga of Bijimi community in Ilaje Local Government Area said flooding and environmental degradation continue to threaten farming and fishing, the main sources of livelihood for many residents.
“Our livelihoods depend on the land and water, but flooding and environmental degradation are making it increasingly difficult for families to farm, fish and earn an income.
“Communities must be involved in designing the solutions because we experience these challenges directly and understand what will work locally.”
PIND said the roundtable built on recommendations from the 2025 Niger Delta Crisis Scenario Planning Workshop on resilience strategies, organised in collaboration with the Office for Strategic Preparedness and Resilience, the Fund for Peace, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit GmbH (GIZ) under the ECOWAS Peace, Security and Governance Project.
The organisation added that participants recommended integrating climate-security considerations into public policy, environmental governance, early warning systems, community peace structures and development programmes.
PIND reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening collaboration among policymakers, climate experts, environmental stakeholders and peacebuilding practitioners to improve preparedness and coordinate responses to climate-related risks across the Niger Delta.
