Sadiya Umar Farouq, the minister of humanitarian affairs, disaster management, and social development (FMHADMSD), yesterday pleaded with developed nations to increase funding for initiatives that would help the most vulnerable members of society adapt to the rising level of desertification and persistent flooding that are causing deaths and property destruction in the country. She made the plea during the 27th Conference of Parties (COP27) to the UNFCCC, which is now taking place in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.

The funding of adaptation programmes in developing countries, as decided at COP26 in Glasgow last year, should be a priority for developed country leaders to implement at COP27, according to her. The minister urged world leaders to “move beyond rhetoric to real action,” offering a bleak picture of the country’s recent history of unimaginable destruction brought on by the effects of climate change, particularly in 2021 and this year.

She added “When it comes to effects of climate change, the most vulnerable are the poorest of the poor, migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons, the elderly, women and children. These groups bear the most devastating effect of climate change yet they are the least contributors to climate change malpractice.”

In Nigeria in 2021, “climate change-induced hydrological and drought-induced hazards, coupled with insurgency, ethnic and religious crisis devastated and caused unprecedented humanitarian crisis across the country, leaving behind huge humanitarian disasters translated in loss of lives and properties, forced migration and precarious health emergencies and deadly food crisis.”

Excerpts from her submission:

“While appreciating the efforts of stakeholders and partners, the question still remains how can we speedily, effectively and efficiently mobilise multi-sectoral stakeholders and partners to locate themselves in the humanitarian crisis caused by climate change in developing nations?”

“How committed are we to the Glasgow Climate Pact that called for doubling of financial commitment to help developing nations to become more resilient and adapt to the impact of climate change?”

“How committed are we to supporting developing nations to effectively and efficiently implement humanitarian principles as it relates to climate change mitigation, resilience and adaptation strategies in a timely manner?”