Benue Takes Decisive Step to Strengthen Climate Governance Framework

Benue State has taken a decisive step to strengthen its climate governance framework, signalling a renewed commitment to addressing the growing environmental challenges facing the state.

The state government has identified prioritizing stronger institutional capacity and legislative leadership as key drivers for building long-term climate resilience.

At the one-day training on climate change, themed “Strengthening Legislative Leadership for Developing Climate Change Resilience and Carbon Budgeting in Benue State,” top government officials, members of the 10th State House of Assembly, and international development partners gathered in Abuja to deepen climate awareness and equip lawmakers with the tools to drive effective policies.

The training emphasized the critical role of informed legislation in institutionalizing carbon budgeting, promoting sustainable development, and safeguarding Benue’s future against escalating climate threats.

In his keynote address, the Executive Governor of Benue State, His Excellency Rev. Fr. Dr. Hyacinth Iormem Alia, represented by his Secretary, Dr. Emmanuel Chenge, raised concern over the increasing exposure of the state to climate-related disasters, noting that frequent flooding, erratic rainfall, rising temperatures and biodiversity loss now threaten agriculture, infrastructure and rural livelihoods.

He said: “Benue State, known as the Food Basket of the Nation, bears a disproportionate vulnerability to climate change.

“We have witnessed increasing frequency of floods in Makurdi, Agatu, Guma, Logo, Katsina-Ala and other riverine LGAs; erratic rainfall affecting crop yield; rising temperatures impacting water security and the health of our people; as well as degradation of forest landscapes and biodiversity.”

Chenge added that the effects of climate change are already eroding the state’s economic foundations, insisting that: “When climate disasters strike, it is our farmers, our women, our youth and our rural communities who suffer the most.

“Our food production systems are exposed, our infrastructure is weakened and our social stability is endangered. We cannot afford to treat this as a distant problem—its impacts are already at our doorstep.”

He called for urgent legislative action, emphasizing that the House of Assembly holds the power to set the pace for the state’s climate transition stating that “Climate governance begins with strong laws, effective oversight and a clear budgeting framework, you as lawmakers, have the power to strengthen the Benue State Climate Change Law so it evolves with global best practices, you can institutionalize carbon budgeting systems, legislate climate-smart land use and demand accountability from MDAs. With your leadership, we can turn challenges into opportunities for green development.”

He further stressed that climate resilience must be mainstreamed into all sectors. “Every ministry must begin to think climate. Every local government must plan with climate in mind, and every future development blueprint must place environmental sustainability at its core, out survival as a people depends on the decisions we make today.” He noted .

The country Director of International Alert Nigeria, Kingsley Udo, highlighted the need for unified climate leadership, describing the gathering as a strong demonstration of the state’s readiness to confront climate-related risks.

He said: “I am delighted to see such a rich gathering of stakeholders committed to strengthening climate governance in Benue State, your presence reflects a shared commitment to ensuring that our institutions, communities and governance structures work together in confronting the realities of climate change.”

He emphasized that climate change is fast becoming a major driver of conflict if left unaddressed.

He noted that “In Benue, Nigeria’s food basket, erratic rainfall, flooding, prolonged dry seasons and land degradation are contributing not only to environmental stress but also to heightened competition over land, water and livelihoods.”

He explained that: “Climate pressure, if unmanaged, becomes a conflict trigger, that is why proactive climate governance is no longer optional; it is essential for long-term peace.”

Udo also highlighted International Alert’s decades-long work in peacebuilding and governance reform.

“International Alert has worked for over 30 years globally and nearly two decades in Nigeria helping communities find peaceful solutions to conflict, we have partnered with governments, civil society and security agencies to develop responsive policies and strengthen institutional capacity. Our commitment to Benue is rooted in our belief that peace and climate security must go hand in hand.” He said .

He called on lawmakers to take a central role in implementing the Climate Change Act noting that: “As lawmakers, your leadership is indispensable,The Act will remain a document unless you translate it into real, actionable and well-resourced policies. Your oversight, your budgeting decisions and your engagement with your constituencies determine how far Benue will go in building resilience.”

Udo added further that the state cannot wait for disasters before taking action.

“We must move from reaction to prevention, the time for hesitation is over , the climate is changing faster than our systems are adapting,this meeting marks an important step toward bridging that gap.”he said .

The Director General, Benue State Council On Climate Change (BSCCC), Aondofa Mailumo identified the climate situation in Benue as severe and escalating. Shifting rainfall patterns, flooding, rising temperatures, erosion, declining soil fertility and the struggle of farmers signal that the state is approaching a dangerous threshold. The food system—not just the environment—is under threat. This urgency forms the foundation for why legislative action, financing and coordinated climate governance are essential.

He said: “Benue State, the food basket of the nation, is increasingly confronted with environmental realities that threaten the economic lifeline of its people. Farmers are struggling, food production is declining, and our communities are facing heightened vulnerability. These growing impacts highlight the urgent need for climate action.”

The DG emphasized that no climate initiative policy, plan, or strategy,can succeed without the backing of the State Assembly. Laws must create structure, continuity, accountability and enforcement without legislation, climate plans remain intentions; with legislation, they become enforceable frameworks capable of driving real change.

He further noted that the key legislative responsibilities include providing legal backing for the Climate Change Law and its Action Plan, institutionalizing carbon budgeting across government operations, mandating climate risk assessments for public projects, ensuring consistent climate reporting by MDAs, and approving sustainable budgetary provisions for adaptation and mitigation initiatives.

He said: “Without supportive legislation, climate policies remain aspirations. With strong laws, they become instruments for real transformation. The Legislature has the power to institutionalize carbon budgeting, mandate climate risk assessments, and safeguard the climate agenda of Benue State.”

He revealed that the major barrier to climate action is inadequate financing , current budget allocations are intermittent and insufficient, while the scale of climate threats demands sustained, predictable funding.

The DG stressed that Benue must diversify its financing sources to include domestic, international, private sector and community-level channels. This blended finance model is essential for moving from planning to implementation.

“Climate action requires huge financial resources that government alone cannot shoulder, to move from planning to implementation, we must expand our financing landscape tapping into domestic, international, private-sector and community-level climate finance,” he said.

Beyond challenges, the DG said climate change must be used as an opportunity for transformation, noting that with effective mitigation and adaptation strategies, Benue can strengthen agriculture, promote green innovation, create jobs and build long-term resilience Climate action, therefore, is not only defensive but also developmental.

“Mitigation and adaptation represent an opportunity to reduce climate risks, drive sustainable development, protect livelihoods, and promote green innovation in Benue State. This is our chance to build a resilient future,” he said.

Participants agreed that the state legislature must anchor climate governance by enacting responsive laws, mandating climate risk assessments and ensuring transparent use of climate funds.

The meeting concluded with a collective commitment from government leaders, lawmakers and development partners to prioritize climate action as a central pillar of Benue’s long-term development strategy. Stakeholders emphasized that while technical solutions are essential, they must be complemented by strong political will, effective legislation and continuous capacity building with strengthened legislative leadership and continued collaboration with partners such as International Alert, Benue State appears poised to chart a more resilient, climate-responsive and sustainable path for its citizens.

Benue Takes Decisive Step to Strengthen Climate Governance Framework

UNDP: For Nigeria to Walk Tall, Women Must Not Be Excluded from Political Leadership

By: Michael Mike

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has warned Nigeria against continued exclusion of women from political leadership, insisting that to walk tall in the emerging world order a nation needs both genders.

Speaking in Abuja, at a High-Level Roundtable with Media Professionals on the bill for the Reserved Seats for Women aimed at increasing women’s representation in Parliament, the UNDP Resident Representative for Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, explained that the debate over the proposed Special Seats Bill for Women must move beyond emotion and politics, stressing
that women’s political participation is now a strategic requirement for Nigeria’s survival and leadership in a world being reshaped by artificial intelligence, demographic disruptions, mineral politics and geopolitical rivalry.

She noted that: The world, Nigeria must navigate today, is fiercely competitive. Countries are contesting on ideas, values and narratives. Nigeria must navigate a world of a shifting geopolitics, rapid technological transformation artificial intelligence, the internet, of things demographic pressures, and contested influence. Nigeria cannot walk into that future with half its population excluded from shaping decisions. Nigeria cannot compete globally with less than 5% female representation. We need different voices and ideas around the table to position Nigeria as a great leader. We are looking at inclusive governance young people, women, persons with disabilities. When Nigeria succeeds, Africa succeeds”

She decried Nigeria’s current representation of women less than 5%, as incompatible with the country’s ambition to lead Africa, stressing that: “Global data consistently shows a direct link between women’s political leadership and national progress in economic growth, health, education, and technological innovation. There is clear evidence. When women sit at the decision-making table, countries do better economically, socially, technologically.

She cited countries like Rwanda, Senegal, Mexico and Sierra Leone, as examples where gender quotas unlocked political stability, innovation and stronger governance systems, stressing that Nigeria risks missing out on Beijing+30 Gains.

She noted that by comparison, “Nigeria still has less than 5% female representation in political decision-making, with only four women in the Senate and about 17 in the House of Representatives. There is a lot more that can be done.”

She further commended Nigerian advocates for their effort and energy in pushing gender inclusion, stating that: “A few days ago, I saw men and women engaging legislators, offering creative solutions, advocating that we make history together.

Referencing this year’s Beijing +30 anniversary of the Beijing Declaration, review, She said global progress on gender equality remained uneven, with Nigeria’s progress remaining far off the mark, especially in political participation, noting that the gaps are still huge, “We are far away from gender equality in political leadership. The 16 Days of Activism remind us that it cannot be just 16 days; it must be 365 days of responsibility. The bill aligns with Nigeria’s international obligations under SDG 5, SDG 16 and CEDAW. We feel it is an opportunity to create momentum for the imperatives under Beijing +30 and under the Sustainable Development Goals.”
According to her, around the world, countries are using special seats or quota systems as temporary tools to correct historical and structural exclusion.
“This is not tokenism. It is a proven mechanism to level the field where history has tilted it. Women’s Leadership Now a Security and Development Issue”.

While Nigerian political debates often frame women’s representation as charity, fairness or morality, Ms Attafuah, shifted the frame entirely calling it an economic, security and development imperative.

“Inclusive governance is now directly linked to a nation’s ability to survive global shocks from digital disruption to mineral tensions and geopolitical competition. In a world driven by AI, demographic explosion and contested global influence, Nigeria needs every voice, every idea, every perspective to compete,” she said.

She however reaffirmed that UNDP’s involvement in supporting the process at the invitation of the National Assembly, was anchored on evidence that inclusive governance drives national progress.

She said: “We have been working with the National Assembly, supporting consensus building and communication, and leveraging the newly launched African Facility for Women in Political Leadership, led by a Nigerian Regional Director. Nigeria Must Not Sleepwalk Into the Future. Today is a follow-up on earlier conversations. A few weeks ago, we discussed the role of women in political leadership and the special seats bill for women. what more can be done, and how we can bring our assets together to take this forward. We remain apolitical. We have been helping with communication and clarifying what we are collectively trying to seek promoting inclusive governance and economic growth.”

The UNDP Resident Representative, charged Nigerian media professionals, to be active in helping to dismantle stereotypes and misinformation about women in politics.

She said: “The media does not only mirror society — it shapes society’s imagination If Nigerians cannot imagine women as leaders, it becomes difficult to elect them.”

On her part, the President of the Women in Politics Forum, Mrs Ebere Ifendu, stressed that women’s political participation can only be achieved when it is backed with legislation.

She said: “Why do we need legislation to support women’s political participation? we have worked across two political parties to see if we could get it from that angle. It didn’t work out for us. Looking at other countries, we have also realised that without legislation we would not be doing much.”

Ifendu commended all the support from partners such as , UNDP, UN Women, the Canadian government, EU, British High Commission, and Nigerian men within and outside the parliament, who are making sure the bill is passed.

Stakeholders were urged to act decisively as the postponed vote on the Special Seats Bill approaches, calling it an opportunity for Nigeria to make history.

The Women Special Seats Bill is a vital step toward increasing women’s representation and building a more inclusive democracy in Nigeria.

UNDP: For Nigeria to Walk Tall, Women Must Not Be Excluded from Political Leadership

NSCDC Intercepts Human Trafficking Syndicate, Rescues 14 Egypt, Israel Bound Victims

By: Michael Mike

Operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) have successfully thwarted a major human trafficking operation, leading to the rescue of 14 young Nigerian women and the arrest of two suspected syndicate members in Abuja.

A statement by the spokesman of the NSCDC, Afolabi Babawale said the success was achieved when the Commandant General’s Special Intelligence Squad (CG’s SIS) quickly swung into action based on credible intelligence regarding a coordinated human trafficking effort aimed at moving unsuspecting victims to Egypt and Israel.

He revealed that the intelligence indicated that the victims were temporarily housed at the Odogwu Guest House in Gbesa, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), and were being prepared for immediate departure through the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja.

Babawale said the NSCDC squad intercepted a Toyota Sienna bus attempting to move the victims to the Airport, leading to the immediate arrest of the two Nigerian collaborators and the rescue of the 14 victims.

He noted that “preliminary investigation revealed the depth of the trafficking operation. The victims, ranging in age from 19 to 47 years, comprised 11 Yoruba, one Igbo, ,mone Igede, one Isoko woman.

“Thirteen (13) of the 14 victims were found in possession of international passports and yellow cards, but none had the necessary entry visa for the acclaimed destinations.

“The victims, who claimed to be fashion designers, makeup artists, and hairdressers, confessed to being lured with promises of better job opportunities in the destination countries. They further revealed that the arrested suspects were the Nigerian-based collaborators working for the principal agents who are based in the receiving countries.”

He disclosed that: “The arrested suspects, the crime scene, and all recovered exhibits have been thoroughly investigated by the Corps and immediately transferred to the National Agency for the prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) for further investigation and prosecution.

Babawale, in the statement said: “The Corps wishes to restate its commitment to working in synergy with other security and anti-human trafficking agencies to combat this heinous crime. We call on members of the public to continue providing vital intelligence to enable the agency to deliver effectively on its mandate of protecting lives and critical national assets.

NSCDC Intercepts Human Trafficking Syndicate, Rescues 14 Egypt, Israel Bound Victims