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Western Developed Economies Asked to Spend Equally on Warfare and Climate Debt
Western Developed Economies Asked to Spend Equally on Warfare and Climate Debt
By: Michael Mike
Countries in West Africa have been asked to come together to fight for climate justice as separate agitation would yield no result.
The Western developed economies have also been asked to allocate the same resources being spent on warfare on issues around problems climate change.
These are the agreements of environmental crusaders from countries of West Africa during the West Africa Climate Justice Roundtable in Abuja on Tuesday.
Speaking at the Roundtable, the Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), Nnimmo Bassey said the rich countries spent $2.7 trillion in warfare in 2024, insisting that the same amount should be spent as climate debt especially to Africa and other developing countries who bear the major brunt of climate change.
That’s how much is spent, a military armament. So to me, climate debt per year can be equated to how much money they’re spending on warfare and destruction.
Bassey, while speaking on “Linking Challenges and Creating Connections: Building a Regional Climate Movement in West Africa,” noted that undoubtedly, climate change represents the most significant challenge facing the West Africa, both in terms of its impact and the urgent necessity for action.
He noted that: “The shifting climate has extensive implications and consequences in every aspect of human existence, spanning nations and climes. The challenges extend beyond the global shifts in weather; they also encompass the ways these changes interact with and impact people’s lives, including their livelihoods, security, and overall wellbeing. In addition to the direct impacts of climate change, the repercussions of inadequate efforts to tackle the issue have frequently led to complications that worsen the challenges faced by individuals, particularly within local communities.”
He lamented that: “West Africa stands as one of the world’s most susceptible areas to the effects of climate change, affecting sectors such as energy, agriculture, health, water and sanitation, security, ecosystem resilience, and migration patterns.”
Bassey noted that: “At present, the increase in temperatures in West Africa surpasses the global average, and this pattern is anticipated to persist in the foreseeable future. The effects of climate change in West Africa will be significant under both the 1.5 degrees and 2.0 degrees Celsius temperature target scenarios being bandied in climate policy circles around the world. West Africa is expected to experience a significant increase in the number of hot days across all these scenarios.”
He decried that: “Regrettably, policy makers in Africa persist in their inability to take action and implement measures that effectively tackle climate change issues. African leaders and policymakers have frequently allowed the continent to serve as a testing ground for unproven and controversial climate change response strategies and misleading solutions, such as the so-called ‘smart agriculture,’ GMOs, REDD+, and carbon markets… blue carbon… solar radiation management & other geoengineering experiments.”
He stated that: “The vast majority of people in West Africa who are impacted by climate change have frequently been overlooked in the policies and responses designed to tackle the crisis,” stressing that:
“The mechanisms for responding to climate change frequently adhere to the same neo-colonial and exploitative frameworks that caused the crisis in the first place.”
He revealed that: “The West Africa Climate Justice Movement recognises that within the West African context, climate justice entails ensuring that those most affected have a say in developing the solutions,” noting that: “For many of these frontline communities, effective solutions entail protecting lands and water bodies from reckless extractivism and pollution, protecting rainforests and mangroves, and stopping mega-projects and industrial agriculture.”
He said: “Simultaneously, there is a need to support and promote transformative economies through agroecology, the establishment of community-owned and controlled energy democracies, food sovereignty, and just transitions.”
He insisted that: “Climate justice efforts in West Africa also focus on holding corporations and historical polluters accountable for their contributions to climate change and demanding that they address the damage they have caused.
Bassey decried that: “Climate change is already causing significant loss and damage in West Africa, including displacement, loss of livelihoods, and damage to infrastructure.”
He noted that the West Africa Climate Justice Movement aims to engage all crucial stakeholders and actors across the region—be they campaigners, policymakers, or frontline communities—to unite in the pursuit of building popular power.
He added that: “The movement focusses on developing strategies, enhancing solidarity across nations, sharing knowledge, and supporting collaborative climate justice initiatives grounded in a mutual understanding of the interconnectedness of the climate crisis and the necessity for unified action.”
Bassey, while noting that West Africa Climate Justice Conference, Abuja, Nigeria
builds on previous engagements with frontline civil society organisations, communities, academics and movement leaders across the region, disclosed that: “Between 2021 and 2024, the movement held meetings, organized collaboratives events and presented a united front at the UNFCCC Conference of Parties.”
He said: “The upcoming conference aims to further develop and share critical climate change impact connections and interpretations across West Africa, strengthen platforms for interactions between communities in the region around different climate change impact and amplify the voices of West African climate actors, communities and organisations in the global climate change conversations.
“One of the key outcomes of the conference will be the adoption of a common West Africa Climate Change resolution as a core demand of the region at COP 30.“
End
2023 Elections: UN Asks Political Parties to Focus Campaign on Policies and Ideas
By: Michael Mike
As Nigeria gears up for season of electioneering, the United Nations has called on political parties to focus their campaigns on policies and ideas, not insults or divisive rhetorics.
During a speech at the Roundtable on Hate-Free Politics in Nigeria on Monday in Abuja, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr. Mohamed Fall said as we head to the 2027 elections. “Allow me to share some recommendations. First, political parties must lead by example. Campaigns should focus on policies and ideas, not insults or divisive rhetoric.
“Second, parties should commit to codes of conduct that reject hate speech and promote information integrity. Third, cooperation with media and digital platforms is essential to ensure that harmful content is not amplified, while factual, reliable information reaches voters.
“Above all, we must remember that elections are about people, their dignity, their rights, their future. Hate speech strips people of their dignity and undermines the very foundation of democracy. As leaders, you have the power and the responsibility to set the tone, to show Nigerians that politics can be conducted with respect, truth, tolerance, and integrity.”
Fall added that: “On this International Day of Democracy, I call upon you today: let us work together to make democratic participation in Nigeria free from hate and grounded in information integrity and respect for human rights. Let us affirm that words matter and that in choosing our words carefully, we choose peace, unity, and progress for Nigeria. Let us act collectively to strengthen and protect democracy in and beyond Nigeria.”
He stated that this International Day of Democracy with theme “Democracy and Inclusion in an Age of Insecurity” should remind us that democracy is not only about holding elections, but about ensuring inclusion, pluralism, and public participation of everyone in a respectful and inclusive manner.
He noted that: “When falsehoods spread unchecked, especially during elections, they weaken public trust, mislead citizens, and undermine democratic choices. Promoting information integrity means ensuring that Nigerians can access reliable information, that public debate is grounded in facts, and that voters are empowered to make informed choices free from manipulation.”
He insisted that: “In Nigeria, the stakes are high. Vibrant political discourse and engagement should be moments of ‘no gree for anybody’, unity, and pride. But they can be harmful if hateful language and hostile narratives are allowed and accepted; it can incite hostility and result in violence. We know from history that hate speech has been a precursor to some of the worst atrocities, including genocide.
“The Rabat Plan of Action, endorsed by the United Nations, reminds us that advocacy of national, racial, or religious hatred that incites discrimination, hostility, or violence must be prohibited by law and that these laws must comply with international human rights standards, including the right of association, expression, and assembly.
“This is a cornerstone of democracy. Restrictions must be lawful, necessary, and proportionate, never a pretext to silence debate. The challenge before all of us here today is to strike the right balance: engaging in open political discourse while safeguarding freedom of expression and protecting Nigerians from the harms of hate speech.”
On his part, the Executive Secretary of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Dr. Tony Ojukwu noted that since the return to civilian rule in 1999, Nigeria has made notable progress in democratic development.
He said: “We have witnessed successive electoral cycles, the strengthening of civil society, and the expansion of political space. Yet, our democracy remains a work in progress. Challenges such as low voter turnout, weak internal democracy in political parties, electoral violence and malpractices, weak institutional accountability, and limited inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities and harsh political climates continue to undermine public trust and democratic consolidation. Above all of these, our democratic and political processes including communication have often come under immense challenges of poor values, deep-seated hate-filled and divisive rhetoric threatening the core foundation of our nationhood.”
He noted: “The National Human Rights Commission has been at the forefront of efforts to promote ethical and hate-free politicsin Nigeria. In the 2023 elections.”
Ojukwu stated that hate speech is intricately related to human rights, either in its form or outcome, adding that: “To the person spreading hate speech, it is about right to freedom of expression, opinion, speech or belief. To the recipient of hate speech, it is a violation of the rights to dignity of human person and the freedom from discrimination based on religious belief, political, ethnic, gender, cultural or other affiliations, amongst many other human rights.
“When applied to politics, hate speech and unethical communications breed political divisions that facilitate violence, weak voter electoral participation, stifles plurality and social cohesion.”
He said: “As we count down to the 2027 General Elections, the NHRC is alarmed at the high level of hateful politics and unethical practices that seemed to have taken the centre stage with some of our political actors. Achieving a culture of responsible and value-laden political process continues to remain a challenge for Nigeria. From the independence of the election management body to unethical actions of political parties, their candidates and agents to the inappropriate use of security and law enforcement agencies.
“Vote buying and inducements of various sorts during past and recent elections have become worrisome indicators of the fragility of the Nigerian electoral culture with severe consequences on the freedom of association and the right to participation.”
He noted that: “The Roundtable on Ethical and Hate-Free Politics in Nigeria which we are convening today in partnership with the United Nations is aimed at forging a shared understanding of the drivers, patterns, and impacts of hate speech and unethical political communications in Nigerian electoral and democratic processes and to secure practical, rights-based commitments from key actors to promote ethical politics, reduce hate speech and protect pluralism and inclusive participation—especially for women, youth, persons with disabilities, and minority communities in the electoral processes leading to the 2027 elections and beyond.”
2023 Elections: UN Asks Political Parties to Focus Campaign on Policies and Ideas
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Troops recover rifle, ammunition during a raid on the hideout of a notorious gunrunner in Plateau
Troops recover rifle, ammunition during a raid on the hideout of a notorious gunrunner in Plateau
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 3 Division/Joint Task Force Operation Enduring Peace (JTF OPEP) have recovered arms and ammunition during a raid on the hideout of a notorious gunrunner in Plateau State.
Zagazola learnt that the operation was conducted in the early hours of Monday at Kurra Berom village in Barkin Ladi Local Government Area.
Items recovered included one AK-47 rifle, two AK-47 magazines and 38 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition.
Sources said the operation was based on credible intelligence. However, the suspects fled the hideout before the troops arrived.
They assured that efforts were ongoing to track down and apprehend the fleeing suspects, while reiterating their commitment to mopping up illicit arms and ammunition in the area.
Troops recover rifle, ammunition during a raid on the hideout of a notorious gunrunner in Plateau
AU, Nigeria sign MoU to strengthen fight against terrorism
By; Zagazola Makama
The African Union Commission and the Federal Republic of Nigeria have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration in the fight against terrorism and violent extremism across the continent.
The agreement was signed on Sept. 8 by Amb. Bankole Adeoye, AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, and Maj.-Gen. Adamu Garba Laka, National Coordinator, National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC).
The MoU provides a framework to enhance cooperation and coordination between the AU and Nigeria on counterterrorism initiatives.
Adeoye said the partnership underscored the commitment of both parties to addressing the growing threat of terrorism through coordinated strategies, capacity building and information sharing.
The areas of collaboration include real-time information sharing, deployment of NCTC experts to the African Union Counter-Terrorism Centre (AUCTC), joint research, as well as support for victim recovery, deradicalisation and reintegration.
A Joint Working Group is to be established to monitor progress and oversee the implementation of the MoU.
The agreement reflects the shared commitment of Nigeria and the African Union to promote peace and security across Africa.
AU, Nigeria sign MoU to strengthen fight against terrorism
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