– Niger Delta faces severe coastal erosion and displacement due to climate change
– Calls for enforcement of environmental laws to protect vulnerable communities
– Climate-induced conflicts escalate in Nigeria’s coastal regions
Environmental experts from Academic Associates Peace Works (AAPW) have raised alarms over the potential disappearance of several coastal communities in Nigeria’s Niger Delta by 2050 if environmental protection laws are not enforced. Speaking at a workshop titled “Conflicts in Coastal Communities” held in Port Harcourt on April 28, 2025, Dr. Judith Asuni, Executive Director of AAPW, highlighted the devastating impacts of climate change on the region.
Dr. Asuni emphasized that rising sea levels and frequent flooding have led to the displacement of residents, fueled communal conflicts, and intensified competition over dwindling resources. She urged all levels of government to take urgent action in enforcing environmental protection laws to mitigate these impacts.
Mrs. Nkoyo Toyo, Deputy Director of AAPW, stressed the need for a holistic approach to environmental enforcement, involving community leaders, policymakers, and security agencies. She pointed out that environmental degradation, partly due to unregulated practices by oil companies and failure to enforce environmental standards, contributes to migration and resource scarcity, heightening the risk of violent conflict.
Representing the Rivers State Ministry of Environment’s Climate Change Desk, Mrs. Nimi Elele warned that entire communities could vanish unless urgent measures are taken to mitigate climate change impacts. She noted that sea-level rise during the rainy season leads to severe flooding, damaging infrastructure and forcing people to migrate inland.
The experts called for leveraging the potentials of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) for infrastructure development to protect vulnerable communities from the impacts of sea-level rise and flooding.
