Climate change represents a significant threat to global peace and security, in addition to human population growth on sustainable national development and food security in Nigeria. With growing evidence of biodiversity and livelihood losses resulting to forced migration for survival and communal conflicts. There is a need for key stakeholder’s both state and non-stake-actors to come together, to importantly advance a well-coordinated solution underscores the high-level stakeholders convening and Policy Engagement Visits on climate change, sustainable land use and agriculture (SLUA) in Abuja, Nigeria from 8 – 10 July 2025.
The African Centre for Climate Actions and Rural development (ACCARD) in collaboration with African Climate Foundation (ACF) convened a High-level Stakeholders and Policy Engagement Visits on climate change, sustainable land use and agriculture (SLUA) in Abuja-Nigeria from 8 to 10 July 2025. The engagements aimed at contributing to ongoing global efforts to proffer actionable and concrete solutions to the cascading challenges of climate change, the bourgeoning increases of agrochemicals in our food systems that are currently blamed on climate change and human population growth.
The visits, include the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), were received by the SGF, Distinguished Senator George Akume. The Director of Forestry in the Federal Ministry of Environment, and National Coordinator of the Nigeria’s REDD+ Programme – Dr. Moses Ama. Also, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security are geared towards strengthening existing policy frameworks and to foster a sustainable pathway for resilient agricultural systems for healthy food consumption, food security and land use in Nigeria.
During the visits, the team discussed the policy perspectives relating to a study conducted by the ACF and ACCARD team on Sustainable Land Use and Agriculture (SLUA) on the Nigeria’s SLUA programme that is underway. The visits are geared towards increasing awareness on the adverse effects of harmful agrochemical use, promote safer farming methods and agroecological principles. Also, the needed stakeholders support and coordination, human capacity needs, knowledge sharing as well as financial mechanisms to support a successful implementation of the SLUA programme in Nigeria.
The high-level stakeholders and policy engagement visit which commenced on Tuesday, July 8, 2025, was led by the coordinator and founder of African Centre for Climate Actions and Rural Development (ACCARD), Amb. Freeman Elohor Oluowo, to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Distinguished Senator George Akume.
The team of ACCARD and ACF Delegation were received by the distinguished Senator George Akume and his team of experts.
Speaking as the team lead for the ACCARD and ACF Delegation, Amb. Freeman Oluowo started the conversation, saying the meeting became necessary to tackle the multiple and worsening climate change and human population growth challenges resulting in conflicts and growing food insecurity in the country. That the enactment and implementation of the right policies, coordination among stakeholders can potentially address the root cause of these challenges.
Amb. Oluowo said our current food systems are highly compromised, and that people are eating unhealthy food, and there is an urgent need to ensure that food in the market is safe for consumption. He concluded that the engagement and visits are imperative to somewhat find lasting solutions to climate change and sustainable land use challenges in Nigeria.
In his words, “in Nigeria, we have been talking about the farmers-herders crisis that is largely political, but we are failing to understand that climate change drives a lot of changes and concerns in the society. We are here to work with the Nigerian government to help put the right policy structure and coordination in place. Consequently, engaging with notable institutions like the World Bank and other development financiers will no doubt increase Nigeria’s access to access green finance and intervention funds to accelerate its sustainable development goals.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, The Distinguished Senator George Akume while addressing the team expressed his concerns, saying the country is running out of time to combat the impacts of climate change. The SGF, who called on stakeholders to collaborate to mitigate the impact of global climate change, also emphasized the need for sustainable land use practices to reduce the effects of climate change. He, however, reaffirmed the President Bola Tinubu’s commitment in supporting climate change solutions on the ground, promote safe and healthy food initiatives aimed at resilient living, sustainability, and prosperity for all Nigerian citizens.
He also commended the Founder of the ACCARD Initiative, Amb. Freeman Oluowo for his determination towards winning the war against climate change for economic and sustainable development of Nigeria and Africa.
Mr Japhet Muli, the SLUA lead with the ACF team, presented a brief overview of the Sustainable Land use and Agriculture Study report.
The ACCARD and ACF team were pleased to hear the insights of the SGF on the current policies harmonization effort to ensure government continuity of programs and initiatives top-down, that is, from the National to the local government levels are aimed at reducing policy(ies) surmount, fragmentation and program abandonment. This was hopeful as the team engaged on implementation strategies and coordination plan. The team agreed to work together on new strategies and a sustained partnership to finding adaptive solutions, including the financing needed to tackle the associated challenges of climate change and food systems in Nigeria.
A Picture of the high level delegation with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Distinguished Senator George Akume and his Team of experts.
On same day, Tuesday, 8th of July 2025, the high-level delegation also visited the National REDD+ Office in Abuja. The team was received by the National Coordinator and Director of Forestry in the Federal Ministry of Environment, Dr Moses Ama, at the REDD+ secretariat.
The discussions centered around climate change, nature-based solutions, agroecology, with highlighted actionable ways to transition Nigeria’s food systems to a more resilient and safe food production.
The visit was another learning curve for the team, and hearing Dr. Moses Ama speak on the subject matter. The team agreed to foster good partnership to contribute to the sustainable green development and safe food production in Nigeria including promoting agroecology.
On Wednesday, 9th July 2025, the high-level delegation visited the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security in Abuja. The meeting took place in the Minister’s Conference Room.
The ACCARD-ACF delegation and the Ministry’s representatives engaged in a robust conversation with an agreement to enhance inclusive stakeholders’ collaboration, promote safe food production and security, curbing the expansion of agrochemicals in our food systems and agricultural farming, as well as the development of more resilient climate farming strategies at the grassroot level. Also, to drive the needed big data and academic research for effective planning, monitoring and governance of the sector.
The meeting ended with discussions on the need for better coordination amongst stakeholders particularly among Government, NGO’s, private sector and farmers, to promote food safety and security. Also, future collaborations particularly to enhance early warning and climate service response strategies in Nigeria among local farmers.
The climax of the visit was a high-level convening on Thursday, 10th of July 2025 at the Reiz Intercontinental Hotel Abuja. The meeting had in attendance, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation represented by Prof Babatunde Bolaji Benard, the Federal Ministries of Agriculture, Environment, Budget and National Planning, REDD++ Secretariat, farmers, civil society leaders, the private sector and multilateral development banks including the World Bank.
Amb. Freeman Oluowo said the convening is to find sustainable solutions to climate change-induced food and land use insecurity, promote smart and sustainable land management practices that do not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs.
According to him, there have been numerous dialogues, but what is lacking is coherence and inclusive coordination. Saying, we must have the government, private sector, and civil society to act as one. Particularly with climate change which is no longer just an environmental issue — but fueling systemic changes, conflicts, food insecurity, and agrochemicals in our food systems.
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), represented by the Technical Assistant to the SGF, Prof Babatunde Bolaji Benard in the SGF’s keynote address, disclosed that the government is developing a national policy framework to harmonize land-use-related policies across the ministries of agriculture, environment, budget and planning, and other relevant agencies.
The framework, he said, would serve as a reference point for current and future administrations, to avoid duplication and to ensure policy coherence as well as program continuity. The framework will also guide development partners in aligning their interventions with Nigeria’s priorities.
Stakeholders agreed that achieving food sufficiency must go hand in hand with ensuring what Nigerians eat is healthy and safe, especially in the face of increasing climate-induced risks and population growth. The proposed policy harmonization when eventually launched would accelerate progress in sustainable land use and agricultural resilience when effectively implemented at both state and local government levels
The high-level stakeholder and policy engagement convening featured; Two key presentations on Assessing Nigeria’s Current Climate Change and Sustainable Land Use Programmes, presented by Prof. Soleiman Omeiza, and Pathway for developing sustainable climate change policies and sustainable land use programmes in Nigeria, presented by Ahmed Chinade Abdullahi, World Bank Group. Mr Japheth Muli presented Nigeria’s Sustainable Land Use and Agriculture (SLUA) Study Assessment Report. There were two expert panel discussions on co-creating sustainable solutions for climate change and agriculture in Nigeria, and, Climate change, Food systems policies and implementation for SLUA. Hon. Arc Lanre Okunlola, Deputy Chairman, House Committee on Foreign Aids, Loans and Debt Management delivered a brief presentation on the bill and benefits of the proposed establishment of the Nigeria’s Climate Change Funds on the floor of the Federal House of Representatives.
The office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation requested for the outcomes of the 3-days high level policy engagement visits as a vital document for national actions and policy development.