Stakeholders Seek Policy Reforms on Climate Change on Rural Communities

Researchers, policymakers, and community stakeholders have urged for immediate policy reforms to enhance climate resilience, food security, and livelihood protection for rural dwellers in Kwara State and across Nigeria. These reforms are seen as vital for addressing food shortages and boosting the socio-economic growth of the populace.

The call came during a discussion titled “Strengthening Climate Resilience, Food Systems, and Livelihood Security in Kwara State through Evidence-Informed Policy Action.” The event provided a platform to develop research-based policy adaptations and sustainable socio-economic livelihoods for the state's rural population.

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The study also found that access to early warning information among vulnerable communities remained very low, limiting preparedness and response to climate shocks.

Professor Andrew Onwuemele, a lead researcher from the Nigeria Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) in Ibadan, presented findings from the PALM-TREEs Project. These findings reveal the growing vulnerability of rural communities to climate change impacts, including droughts, flooding, food insecurity, weak climate information systems, declining agricultural productivity, and livelihood disruptions. He noted that access to early warning information among these communities remains very low, hindering preparedness and response to climate shocks.

Onwuemele specifically addressed the issue of flooding in Kwara State, identifying two primary causes: the overflow of the River Niger into communities and the release of excess water from the Kanji and Jebba Dams. These factors contribute significantly to the challenges faced by rural dwellers, underscoring the need for targeted policy interventions and improved infrastructure management.

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One of the findings for the study was that the flooding in Kwara state is a result of two main factors. One is the overflow of River Niger into the communities. And secondly, there was the issue of the release of excess water from Kanji Dam and the Jebba Dam into the community.