A non-governmental organisation (NGO), Natural Justice, in partnership with African Activists for Climate Justice, has trained female lawyers across Nigeria on climate change litigation.

The two-day training, which commenced on Wednesday, aims to equip women in the legal profession with the knowledge and tools necessary to address climate justice through the courts.

The Country Manager of Natural Justice, Mr Michael Karikpo, emphasised the central role of women in climate activism, noting that women are disproportionately affected by the impacts of climate change.

“There are already legal frameworks like the Climate Change Act and Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions that provide avenues for holding duty bearers accountable.

“Yet, the lack of preparedness and transparency, particularly in the management of Nigeria’s ecological fund, remains a significant concern,” Karikpo said.

He also called for the integration of climate change awareness and litigation into the legal education curriculum, stating that empowering female lawyers is essential in amplifying vulnerable voices and advancing environmental justice.

“Communities across Nigeria, from the North, Niger, Kogi, and the Niger Delta, face flood issues.

“One of the biggest flooding events we had in Nigeria was in 2012, and 10 years later, we experienced another massive flooding event.

“Over $5 billion worth of properties were destroyed across Nigeria, impacting almost all of the eight states.

“Last year, we struggled with dam collapses, resulting in thousands of drowned people, lost property, and hundreds of lives lost. Just about a week and a half ago, in Mokwa, another dam collapsed, causing more tragedy.

“The frequency and intensity of climate change impacts seem to be increasing daily, monthly, yearly,” Karikpo added.

In his presentation titled “Climate Change Litigation in Nigeria: An Evolving Trend,” environmental lawyer and consultant Mr Ishaku Mshelia discussed the critical connection between scientific exposure to climate risks and the legal responses needed.

Mshelia referenced the Paris Agreement and Nigeria’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions by 20 per cent, describing the Climate Change Act as a foundation for legal engagement.

He stressed the need to enhance the judiciary’s understanding of climate litigation and to strengthen the capacity of lawyers to lead this charge.

Mshelia also highlighted the importance of including climate litigation in the legal education curriculum, emphasising the urgency to address multiple climate change crises such as flooding, drought, desertification, and the destruction of forests.

He called for institutions, law schools, and universities to update their curriculum to reflect the current climate change challenges.

The Executive Secretary of the Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre), Mr Sulaimon Arigbabu, elaborated on the science of climate change and its severe consequences for Nigeria.

He emphasised that Nigeria faces devastating effects despite being among the least contributors to climate change.

Arigbabu highlighted the role of gas flaring, inadequate policy responses, and weak enforcement mechanisms as urgent issues, urging participants to use their legal expertise to challenge injustice and protect the rights of the most affected populations, particularly women and children.

Maritime and environmental law expert, Dr Erimma Gloria Orie, called for concerted efforts to address climate change impacts on vulnerable citizens and to hold governments and corporations accountable.

She expressed concern about the continuous prospecting for oil despite environmental challenges, stressing the need for political action to curb climate change.

Orie, the Head of Private and Property Law in the Faculty of Law, National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN), emphasised the need for climate change education in universities and the involvement of NGOs in assisting victims of climate change, calling for financial support for climate litigation.

The training marks a significant step in promoting gender-inclusive climate justice and building a legal community capable of confronting the climate crisis through strategic litigation and advocacy.