•FG warns of desertification, food insecurity

Stakeholders, including the federal government and regional authorities, are seeking to mobilise N20 billion over the next four years to tackle climate change challenges in the North-West, while targeting to train 10,000 youths in climate resilience, adaptation and other green skills.

Unveiled yesterday at the maiden North-West Climate Summit 2026 at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, the initiative comes as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, and presidential aides warn that climate change is deepening environmental degradation, threatening food security and undermining livelihoods across the country.

Abbas warned that climate change posed a growing threat to food security, economic stability and rural livelihoods, particularly in a region heavily dependent on agriculture and livestock production.

Represented by Kama Nkemkama, Abbas said irregular rainfall, prolonged drought, desertification, soil degradation and flooding demand coordinated interventions across state boundaries.

He called for greater investment in irrigation, flood control, watershed protection, groundwater conservation and climate information systems to help farmers anticipate changing weather conditions and minimise losses.

Also, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Finance and Stakeholder Engagement, Ibrahim Shelleng, said Nigeria must begin financing its climate priorities from domestic sources rather than depend excessively on international support, particularly amid fiscal constraints and changing global geopolitics.

Meanwhile, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Community Engagement (North-West), Abdullahi Tanko Yakasai, disclosed plans to establish a regional climate marketplace, a training academy and a dedicated climate fund.

Yakasai said the initiative was designed to attract domestic and international climate financing, strengthen collaboration among state and local councils, and equip young people with the skills needed to respond to the growing threats posed by climate change.

He described the summit as a pioneering regional platform intended to connect subnational governments with international development partners, financial institutions and other investors interested in supporting climate-related programmes.

According to him, the climate marketplace will be a platform for states and council areas across the region to showcase their climate initiatives and projects, enabling prospective partners to identify investment opportunities and establish collaborations.

The presidential aide said the second component, the Climate Academy, would train 10,000 young people across the region in a move intended to build local capacity and prepare young people to participate in addressing climate-related challenges while contributing to emerging economic opportunities in the green economy.

Moreover, the third component, which is the climate fund, is expected to mobilise resources for interventions in areas such as flooding, drought, renewable energy and other environmental challenges confronting communities across the North-West, he stated.

On the implications of the summit for Nigeria’s participation in the forthcoming United Nations climate change conference, Yakasai said the outcomes, including recommendations from interactive sessions, would help the region identify areas of alignment with international climate priorities and explore opportunities for collaboration.