*Photo: President Bola Tinubu*
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called for stronger international cooperation and people-centred policies to address the growing challenge of climate-induced mobility, describing climate change as one of the most significant drivers of human movement in the world today.
The President stated this while delivering the opening statement at a Special Event on Climate-Induced Mobility, convened under Nigeria’s Chairmanship of the Rabat Process.
The event marked Nigeria’s final official meeting as Chair and brought together senior officials and international partners to deliberate on the intersection of climate change, migration, development, and security.
Represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, the President noted that hosting the event at this time was both deliberate and symbolic, reflecting Nigeria’s conviction that climate change now has profound implications for peace, security, development, and human dignity across Africa, Europe, and beyond.
He stressed that for Nigeria, climate-induced mobility is not a distant or abstract issue but one deeply rooted in the country’s history, geography, and lived realities.
According to President Tinubu, while mobility has traditionally served as a way for communities to adapt to environmental and economic change, the scale and intensity of climate pressures in recent years have fundamentally altered migration patterns.
He emphasised that mobility itself is not inherently negative, adding that with sound policies, legal protection, and adequate investment, it can serve as a legitimate adaptation strategy that enhances resilience and preserves human dignity.
Highlighting Nigeria’s experience, President Tinubu recalled the devastating floods of 2022, which affected over 4.4 million people nationwide and displaced about 2.4 million people across more than 30 states.
He said entire communities were submerged, homes destroyed, farmlands inundated, and livelihoods disrupted, with lasting consequences for food security and social stability. He added that recurring floods have continued to displace populations, placing sustained pressure on host communities and fragile infrastructure.
The President also pointed to the Lake Chad Basin, where decades of environmental degradation and the shrinkage of Lake Chad have undermined fishing, farming, and pastoral livelihoods, forcing communities to migrate in search of survival. Along Nigeria’s coastline, he said rising sea levels and coastal erosion threaten housing and economic infrastructure, while desertification and land degradation continue to erode agricultural productivity in other regions.
President Tinubu said his administration, under the Renewed Hope Agenda, has shifted from reactive responses to proactive climate disaster preparedness. He highlighted the launch of the Global Flood Disaster Management Project (GFDMP), a multi-year initiative aimed at strengthening early warning systems, flood-resilient infrastructure, disaster coordination, and community engagement nationwide.
He also announced the Climate-Resilient Livelihoods Empowerment Programme for Displaced Populations (CLEP4DPS), a 10-year, US$250 million initiative designed to empower displaced persons through climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy entrepreneurship, climate data employment, green value chains, and dedicated women and youth leadership tracks.
He said the programme is built on the premise that economic empowerment is a critical form of climate adaptation.
The President further noted that the Federal Government has supported targeted relief, resettlement, and recovery efforts for flood-affected families through coordinated cash and material assistance. He said displaced families are being resettled into planned communities, such as the Resettlement City Project, with access to basic services and livelihood support, under the supervision of relevant humanitarian and emergency agencies.
President Tinubu stressed that climate-induced mobility is a transnational challenge that no government can address alone, calling for shared responsibility, strengthened international cooperation, and sustained solidarity. He expressed Nigeria’s commitment to advancing evidence-based policymaking, inclusive partnerships, and principled dialogue within the Rabat Process and beyond.
He thanked Switzerland, the European Union, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD), and other participating countries and organisations for their continued support, expressing hope that the discussions would lead to concrete collaboration linking climate action, migration governance, and sustainable development.