From Sola Ojo, Abuja
A newly unveiled research report has brought fresh urgency to the call for inclusive climate change governance in Nigeria, particularly in Kaduna, Kano, and Jigawa States.
The study, which highlighted the disproportionate impacts of climate-related shocks on women and persons with disabilities in these states, was commissioned by the UK Government and aligned with the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE) programme, aimed at addressing systemic exclusion in climate response policies.
Speaking during the dissemination of the *Impact of Climate Change on Women and People With Disabilities* in Kaduna on Thursday, Principal Researcher and lead on the project, Dr Nkem Femi-James, restated the significance of the evidence in inclusive climate change mitigation.
“Our research confirms that climate change is not just an environmental issue, it’s a social one. It affects livelihoods, access to healthcare, education, food security, and even family relationships.
“But most critically, it does not affect everyone equally. Women and persons with disabilities are among the hardest hit,” she noted.
“Efforts such as afforestation and conflict resolution boards are commendable. However, people with disabilities must be brought to the table, as their realities differ.
“For instance, standard flood warnings issued via SMS or town criers may not reach the visually or hearing impaired. Inclusion is not a favour; it’s a necessity for effective climate resilience,” she said.
Deputy Director at the Climate Change Unit in the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Kaduna State, Mr Nyam Maikano, reaffirmed the state’s commitment to inclusive climate action:
“Last November, Kaduna State developed a State Climate Change Policy, and I can confirm that persons with disabilities were specifically included. We are also ensuring their involvement during implementation,” he said.
The senior civil servant mentioned a government-led briquette-making programme that trained over 4,000 women across the state in 2023, aimed at reducing reliance on firewood and providing economic empowerment:
“These are part of our broader efforts to empower vulnerable groups, reduce deforestation, and promote sustainability,” he said.
From the perspective of those most affected, the Chairman of the Joint National Association of Persons with Disabilities (JONAPWD) in Kaduna State, Sulaiman Abdulaziz, described the research as a wake-up call.
“This research comes at the right time. Climate change impacts our community in severe and often overlooked ways, especially during emergencies like flooding.
“Imagine a person who is blind during a flood. He may hear the warnings but cannot see where to run. Or someone who is deaf, he won’t hear alarms or shouted warnings,” he posited.
Sulaiman stressed the need for inclusive emergency communication systems and infrastructure, stating that unless people with disabilities are deliberately accounted for, climate adaptation strategies will continue to leave them behind.
Representing the civil society front, Executive Director of Bridge That Gap Initiative and Coordinator of the Network of Civil Society on Environment, Ms Gloria Kasang Bulus, described the research as a powerful advocacy tool.
“This report will help us project a true picture of what’s happening. It underscores the urgent need for a disability-inclusive agenda in our climate response.
Bulus revealed that her organisation had already started building partnerships with disability-focused groups, such as JONAPWD, and would now use the findings to strengthen collaboration and push for a disability action plan within Kaduna State’s climate implementation framework.
“We already have an implementation plan in place, but it’s high time we developed a dedicated component for persons living with disabilities.
“This report gives us the evidence we need to make that case convincingly,” she noted.