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NCCCS: Nigeria Needs Guideline to Shape Climate Action, Economic Transformation, Social Equity

NCCCS: Nigeria Needs Guideline to Shape Climate Action, Economic Transformation, Social Equity
By: Michael Mike
Nigeria needs a Just Transition Guideline that will serve as a model for inclusive climate action, economic transformation, and social equity in the country, the Director General, National Council on Climate Change Secretariat, NCCCS, and Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Change, Dr Nkiruka Maduekwe has said.
The DG, who made the declaration in Abuja at a workshop on developing a Just Transition Roadmap for Nigeria organised in collaboration with international Labour Organisation (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), asked stakeholders in the environmental sector to work together to develop this.
Maduekwe who was represented by the Director of the Council Secretariat, Mrs Halima Bawa-Bwari, explained that the workshop marks a significant step in shaping a comprehensive Just Transition Guideline that reflects Nigeria’s realities and aspirations.
She said: “We recognize that a Just Transition is not solely an environmental or economic issue it is a social imperative, It requires the active collaboration of government, private sector stakeholders, civil society, and development partners to design policies that mitigate potential disruptions while maximizing new opportunities.”
“The Just Transition Guideline we are developing will be instrumental in achieving these targets through socially responsible and economically viable strategies.”
She noted that Climate related policy framework like the Nigeria’s National Development Plan, Energy Transition Plan, National Bioeconomy Strategic Framework and the Climate Change Act, will provides a blueprint for inclusive and sustainable economic transformation.
Maduekwe said: “A Just Transition framework will ensure that the shift to renewable energy and a low-carbon future aligns with this vision by integrating policies that safeguard workers and communities, particularly those dependent on fossil fuel-based industries, anchored on sustainability, economic inclusion and resilience.”

She stated that “the commitment of President Bola Tinubu’s administration to sustainable development is clearly reflected in the Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes economic prosperity, job creation, and social inclusion.”
She said: “As we implement our climate policies and transition to a green economy, it is imperative that we do so in a way that secures livelihoods, supports vulnerable communities, and fosters shared economic growth—leaving no one behind.”
In a joint address, the ILO, UNDP and UNIDO, said the development of a Just Transition Action Plan or a Roadmap as a National guideline for all sectors is crucial to addressing the challenges and opportunities associated with the transition to a sustainable and low-carbon economy.
Delivering the speech for the three UN agencies, Mr Stephen Agugua, said Nigeria is committed to its international obligations including the Paris Agreement and the sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, as it aims to address climate change and promote sustainable development in the country.
Agugua noted that the Just Transition Roadmap will build upon and align with the existing policy frameworks, providing a coherent and strategic approach to the transition of Nigeria to a low-carbon economy.
He said: “The Nigerian government has already taken significant steps towards sustainable development and climate action. Such as the ongoing revision of the National Determined Contributions NDCs, National Development Plan, NDP, and the establishment of a National Council on Climate Change NCCC, demonstrate the commitment to climate change and promote sustainable economic growth.”
He noted that the alignment of the Just Transition Roadmap with the strategic objectives of the United Nations values emphasized the strategic partnership between the government of Nigeria and the UN system, with the goal to promote inclusive and sustainable economic development to sustain the country drive to low-carbon economy.
He said the International labour Organisation, ILO, advocates for a just transition, fostering environmentally sustainable economies inclusively with a commitment to creating decent work and reducing poverty.
He said the guidelines from the ILO provide an internationally established policy framework that defines the concept of a Just Transition, stressing that: “Under the Climate Promise Initiative UNDP is now supporting 34 countries and territories around the world to strengthen Just Transition principles and processes, since 2010 UNIDO has supported the creation of regional sustainable energy centres across the Global South to accelerate the transition to renewable energy.”
He added that the overall aim of developing a Just Transition Action Plan as a National Guideline is to provide a clear framework and actionable strategies to guide all sectors in the country towards a sustainable and equitable future that emphasizes “Leave no one behind .“
NCCCS: Nigeria Needs Guideline to Shape Climate Action, Economic Transformation, Social Equity
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Monguno says lack of national cohesion fuels insurgency

Monguno says lack of national cohesion fuels insurgency
By: Zagazola Makama
Former National Security Adviser, Maj.-Gen. Babagana Monguno (rtd.), has warned that Nigeria’s fight against insurgency will remain elusive without national cohesion and a united front across society.
Monguno stated this in Abuja on Thursday at the launch of Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a new book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd.).
He said Boko Haram and other violent groups had thrived by exploiting Nigeria’s divisions, stressing that disunity among citizens, political actors, and institutions weakened the country’s capacity to defeat terrorism.
“Without national cohesion, insurgency will not end. Terrorists feed on our fault lines – ethnic, religious, political – and they weaponise them against us. If we remain divided, no amount of military might will deliver lasting peace,” Monguno said.
He urged Nigerians to rise above parochial sentiments and embrace a spirit of patriotism, solidarity, and common purpose. According to him, the fight against insurgency must go beyond the battlefield to include reconciliation, justice, and inclusive governance.
The retired General emphasised that the scars left by Boko Haram were not just physical but also psychological and social, making unity a vital condition for national healing.
“The book reminds us that security is not just the work of soldiers. It is the responsibility of leaders, institutions, and citizens. Unless we build cohesion, insurgency will continue to mutate in different forms,” he added.
Monguno commended Gen. Irabor for documenting his experience, describing the work as a guide that combines history, strategy, and national lessons for the future.
The event was attended by former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, the Minister of Defence, service chiefs, traditional rulers, diplomats, and senior government officials.
Monguno says lack of national cohesion fuels insurgency
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Kukah says military operations alone cannot end insurgency, stresses soft power approach

Kukah says military operations alone cannot end insurgency, stresses soft power approach
By: Zagazola Makama
The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Most Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah, has said Nigeria cannot defeat insurgency through military operations alone, stressing the need to embrace soft power and address root causes of insecurity.
Kukah made this known in Abuja on Thursday while reviewing Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum, a new book authored by former Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor (rtd.).
He said the country’s reliance on military doctrines and repeated counter-insurgency operations had failed to produce lasting peace because Boko Haram represented an ideology, not just an armed threat.
“For years, we have had Operation Lafiya Dole, Operation Restore Order, Operation Hadin Kai, Operation Safe Haven, and many others. Yet, when one operation fails, another is launched. These operations have not ended the insurgency because you cannot fight an idea with weapons alone,” Kukah said.
The cleric argued that describing the insurgency only in military terms forecloses other sources of information and non-kinetic solutions that are critical to peacebuilding.
According to him, Boko Haram’s struggle is framed as a jihad, and many of its fighters see death as martyrdom, making them indifferent to conventional deterrence.
“The challenge before us is not merely about defeating insurgents on the battlefield, but about understanding the soft issues of life and death. Guns cannot build peace; soft power must complement military power,” he said.
Kukah pointed to chapters 11, 12 and 13 of Irabor’s book, which emphasise reconciliation, good governance, justice, and national healing as critical conditions for security.
He praised the author’s reflections for going beyond military strategy, describing them as “the writings of a priest” that call for dialogue, reforms and moral renewal.
The bishop added that Nigeria must prioritise structural reforms, political inclusion, patriotism, and judicial integrity to tackle grievances that feed extremism.
“The urgency now is to invest in soft power – in human development, reconciliation, and building trust in institutions. Military operations can only create space; it is ideas and justice that will sustain peace,” Kukah said.
The event attracted former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, senior government officials, service chiefs, diplomats, and other dignitaries.
End
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Obasanjo urges holistic approach to end Boko Haram, insecurity

Obasanjo urges holistic approach to end Boko Haram, insecurity
By: Zagazola Makama
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has called for a whole-of-society approach to tackle Boko Haram insurgency and other security challenges in Nigeria.
Obasanjo made the call on Thursday in Abuja while reviewing the book “Scars: Nigeria’s Journey and the Boko Haram Conundrum,” authored by retired Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor.
The former president, who wrote the foreword to the book, said the insurgency which has lasted more than 15 years under four administrations had become a major threat to the stability of the nation.
He recalled Nigeria’s past security challenges, including pre-independence militancy, the Tiv riots, and the 30-month civil war, stressing that Boko Haram had now become one of the most protracted security issues the country had faced.
“In 2011, after the UN House attack in Abuja, I went to find out who these people were and what they wanted. I found that they were not really aiming for anything political or religious. In short, they were looking for a better life.
“Have we understood that? Have we taken the right steps? Should we accept this menace as part of our lives? If not, what should we do? How proactive have we been in dealing with this monster within our country?” Obasanjo asked.
He commended Irabor for the courage to document his experiences and perspectives on the insurgency, noting that the book would enrich ongoing national dialogue on peace and security.
Obasanjo said Nigeria must not shy away from interrogating its past in order to understand what was disrupting the present and shaping the future.
“The life of any nation has the good, the bad and the ugly. What is important is for us to confront our challenges honestly, look at our past and present, and when it is time to proffer solutions, we must look beyond the ordinary,” he said.
The former president also warned against treating Boko Haram and banditry as separate problems, stressing that both had become intertwined.
“Those who have things to say about Boko Haram do not even know when Boko Haram stops and banditry starts. They are all mixed together. We must begin to do something about it, and we must do it collectively,” he said.
The event was attended by former President Goodluck Jonathan, Minister of Defence Muhammad Badaru, service chiefs, royal fathers, senior military officers, members of the National Assembly and the diplomatic community.
Obasanjo urges holistic approach to end Boko Haram, insecurity
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