NCJA Reviews Strategic Plan, Seeks Stronger Coordination for Climate Justice

Bennett Oghifo

Members of the Nigeria Climate Justice Alliance (NCJA) have called for stronger coordination, people-centred solutions and inclusive climate action as they reviewed the alliance’s Strategic Action Plan for the 2026–2030 period.

The call was made at a two-day Strategic Action Plan Review and Coordination Workshop held on February 16 and 17, 2026, in Abuja, bringing together civil society organisations, community groups, youth movements, researchers and media actors from across the country.

The workshop, according to a communiqué issued at its conclusion, was convened to strengthen collective climate justice action in Nigeria at a time when climate change impacts are deepening existing social and economic inequalities, particularly among frontline and vulnerable communities.
Participants reviewed the NCJA Strategic Plan (2026–2030), assessed progress so far, and examined ways of improving coordination among alliance members to enhance collective influence on climate policy, access to climate finance and community-driven solutions.

In their deliberations, members observed that climate change continues to disproportionately affect communities with the least capacity to adapt, worsening poverty, insecurity and social exclusion. They noted that in many local communities, women and young people are often forced into livelihood practices such as deforestation and unsustainable resource extraction as survival strategies, even though these activities further exacerbate environmental degradation and climate vulnerability.
The workshop also expressed concern over weak coordination among civil society actors working on climate issues in Nigeria, describing it as a major constraint to effective advocacy, policy engagement and equitable access to climate funding. Participants agreed that fragmented efforts have limited the ability of civil society to speak with one voice and to effectively challenge policies that fail to prioritise justice and equity.

As a result, the alliance underscored the urgent need to shift towards people-centred, community-led and justice-based climate solutions that address the structural drivers of inequality. It was also agreed that civil society organisations and social enterprises must avoid working in silos, stressing that collaboration is essential for achieving meaningful and lasting impact.

Another key observation was the need to integrate gender inclusion and the concerns of persons with disabilities into climate justice work, with participants insisting that true climate justice must leave no one behind.

Following extensive discussions, the workshop reaffirmed commitment to the NCJA Strategic Plan (2026–2030) as the guiding framework for collective action over the next five years. Participants resolved to strengthen the alliance’s governance, coordination structures and accountability mechanisms to ensure more effective implementation of agreed priorities.

They also agreed to establish functional working committees focusing on Public Advocacy and Change, Resource Mobilisation, Knowledge and Capacity Building, and Coordination. These committees are expected to drive implementation and ensure clearer roles, timelines and responsibilities across the alliance.

In addition, the workshop resolved to develop a joint NCJA Action Roadmap with defined priorities and measurable timelines, scale up coordinated advocacy to influence climate policies and promote a just transition, and amplify the voices of communities most affected by climate change.

Participants further committed to pursuing joint resource mobilisation and strategic partnerships to support community-driven climate solutions, as well as strengthening knowledge sharing, learning and capacity building across the alliance. Actionable timelines are to be set for roadmaps developed by each committee.

Reaffirming their commitment, NCJA members pledged to advance climate justice in Nigeria by centring community voices, protecting ecosystems, promoting equity and holding duty-bearers accountable for climate action.

In its conclusion, the workshop called on government institutions, development partners, the private sector and the media to support inclusive, transparent and people-centred climate action in Nigeria, stressing that addressing the climate crisis requires collective responsibility and sustained collaboration.
The communiqué was jointly signed by Dr Joseph Onoja of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation; Dr Michael David of the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation; Dr Grace Alawa of Stakeholder Alliance for Corporate Accountability; Zinta Akpoko of Bridge That Gap Initiative; Udochukwu Egwim of Social Sustainable Development Organisation; Akaase Patience of Women Environmental Programme; and Ahmed Tiamiyu of Centre for Advocacy and Policy on Water and Sanitation.