In a bid to address the challenges posed by climate change on Nigeria food system, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and the African Centre for Climate Actions and Rural Development Initiative (ACCARD) have stressed on the urgent need to harmonise the country’s fragmented climate policies
Speaking at a high-level workshop on sustainable land use and agriculture held Tuesday in Abuja, Freeman Oluowo, Founder and Centre Coordinator of ACCARD, lamented the lack of coordination between government agencies, which he said has hindered effective responses to climate-induced threats, especially in the food and agriculture sectors.
“Right now, there’s too much policy fragmentation in the country. Different ministries and agencies are working in silos. The SGF is currently leading efforts to harmonize these policies into a single, coherent framework,” Oluowo said.
The event, organized in collaboration with the African Climate Foundation, brought together key government stakeholders including the Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, National Budget and Planning, and other climate and development partners.
According to Oluowo, the proposed unified climate policy framework is not only expected to streamline climate governance across sectors but also ensure continuity in implementation- a major challenge in Nigeria’s democratic transitions, where new administrations often discard or replace existing policies.
“Without a reference document that guides national and sub-national climate actions, there’s little incentive for donors or development partners to commit long-term funding. Harmonization will provide that needed structure,” he added.
The workshop also focused on the impact of climate change on Nigeria’s food systems, drawing attention to the rising use of agrochemicals, land degradation, and growing health concerns linked to unsafe food practices.
Oluowo noted that climate change and rapid population growth are placing unprecedented pressure on Nigeria’s food supply chain. He warned that while food availability remains a national concern, food safety and food security are becoming even more critical.
“We’re seeing more young people – 15, 20 years old – battling kidney and liver diseases due to chemical-laced food. We can’t keep ignoring the public health implications of our agricultural practices,” he said.
In his remarks, Aboje Andrew, Environment and safeguard Specialist, ACCARD reiterated that a cohesive national climate policy would allow stakeholders including farmers, civil society groups, and private investors to align their efforts more effectively.
Reading from the communique of the event, Andrew said Nigeria needs Greater inclusion of women and youth in agricultural decision-making; Simplification and localization of climate knowledge for rural farmers; Promotion of agroecology as a sustainable, people-friendly alternative to chemical-dependent farming; and Stronger institutional collaboration across federal and state governments.
He confirmed that the Office of the SGF is in the advanced stages of developing the harmonized framework. Once finalized, it will serve as a national reference point, guiding all future climate-related legislation, programs, and funding.
“This is not a one-off meeting. It’s the beginning of a continuous, high-level engagement that brings everyone; government, private sector, civil society to the same table. Climate change is real, and the time to act in unity is now,” he concluded.