Group says climate change now a present crisis, urges voters to make environment a ballot issue ahead of 2027 elections
By OSEREMEN IHIMEKPEN
As Nigeria joined the rest of the world to mark World Environment Day 2026, the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation, GIFSEP, on Friday launched a nationwide campaign to make climate action a decisive issue in the 2027 general elections.
The organisation unveiled its #Vote4Climate 2027 Campaign in Abuja, calling on Nigerians to demand clear commitments from political leaders on environmental protection, renewable energy, food security, and climate resilience.
Speaking at a press conference attended by environmental experts, development partners, and civil society actors, GIFSEP Executive Director, Dr. Michael David, said climate change is no longer a distant projection but a daily reality with severe economic and social consequences.
“Climate change is no longer a future threat. It is a present crisis affecting our economy, security, health and food systems.”
— Dr. Michael David, Executive Director, GIFSEP
Marking this year’s World Environment Day under the theme, “Inspired by Nature. For Climate. For Our Future. #NowForClimate,” David said Nigerians are already living with the effects of environmental degradation, from flooding and desertification to food insecurity and displacement.
He cited the shrinking of Lake Chad by more than 90 percent since the 1960s, saying it has jeopardised livelihoods across the region. He added that advancing desertification in northern Nigeria continues to swallow fertile farmland, deepen poverty, and fuel resource-based conflicts.
Coastal erosion and rising sea levels, he noted, are also threatening communities in Lagos, Bayelsa, Delta, and Cross River states, with extreme weather events becoming more frequent and destructive. He recalled the catastrophic 2022 floods that displaced over 1.4 million Nigerians as a stark reminder of the country’s vulnerability.
Air pollution from gas flaring, open waste burning, and vehicle emissions contributes to thousands of premature deaths every year, David said, while land degradation costs the nation billions of naira annually through declining agricultural productivity and loss of livelihoods.
With more than 35 million Nigerians already facing acute food insecurity, he warned that climate-induced shocks could further reduce agricultural output if urgent action is not taken. He also identified energy poverty as a major challenge, arguing that Nigeria’s dependence on fossil fuels threatens both economic growth and environmental sustainability.
At the centre of GIFSEP’s intervention is the #Vote4Climate 2027 campaign, designed to push climate issues to the forefront of national political conversations ahead of the next election cycle.
David criticised the dominance of ethnic, regional, and patronage politics in Nigeria’s electoral discourse, insisting that environmental sustainability must become a key criterion for evaluating candidates.
“Every Nigerian is a green voter because every Nigerian depends on a stable environment for survival and prosperity.”
— Dr. Michael David, Executive Director, GIFSEP
He urged citizens to question aspirants on their plans for climate adaptation, renewable energy expansion, pollution control, green job creation, and environmental justice. The campaign, he added, will mobilise voters to reject leaders who ignore climate risks or back policies that encourage unsustainable exploitation of natural resources.
Contributing to the discussion, Richard Nzekwu, a consultant with the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, UNCCD, warned that land degradation is accelerating and poses a serious threat to national stability. He called for increased investment in nature-based solutions and youth-driven environmental restoration programmes.
“Failure to reverse environmental decline could trigger mass migration from affected communities, intensifying pressure on urban centres and increasing the risk of social unrest.”
— Richard Nzekwu, Consultant, UNCCD
Nzekwu stressed that millions of Nigerians depend directly on land resources for their livelihoods and that inaction would have far-reaching social consequences.
Also speaking, GIFSEP Board Member Gloria Agema called for stronger participation of women in climate governance and decision-making. She noted that women often bear the heaviest burden of climate-related challenges, including food shortages, health risks, insecurity, and displacement, yet remain underrepresented in shaping policy.
Agema urged governments and development partners to expand support for women-led climate initiatives, arguing that inclusive solutions are essential to building resilient communities.
The event ended with a rallying call to journalists, civil society organisations, youth groups, and citizens to demand greater environmental accountability from public office holders.
As the countdown to the 2027 elections begins, GIFSEP’s message was clear: climate change is no longer a peripheral issue but one that could determine Nigeria’s future prosperity and security.
For the organisation, the choice before Nigerians is simple: the future of the environment, and indeed the nation, will be decided at the ballot box.
