NHRC forms committee to tackle human rights issues from climate change

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has set up a National Working Committee to look into human rights problems caused by climate change in Nigeria.

A statement from the NHRC on Tuesday said it became necessary to form this committee because "climate change is no longer just an environmental issue. It is a human rights issue."

The Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Tony Ojukwu, asked Nigerians to change how they see climate change.

"It’s not just about rising temperatures. It’s about people. It’s about families losing their homes, farmers losing their livelihoods, communities being uprooted and vulnerable people falling deeper into poverty," he said.

Mr Ojukwu explained that the committee is a collaboration between the NHRC, the Federal Ministry of Environment, and the National Council on Climate Change.

The partnership aims to protect the rights and dignity of Nigerians as the country battles climate change.

According to the statement, the Working Group will work with government bodies, civil society groups, academics, and development partners.

"Every flooded community, every displaced family, every child forced out of school by disaster, every farmer who loses a harvest, and every community struggling to survive tells a story that deserves attention," Mr Ojukwu added.

During the inauguration ceremony, Yussuf Kelani, the Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Climate Change, assured attendees of the presidency’s backing for the committee’s work.

Iniobong Awe, who stood in for the Minister of Environment, confirmed the ministry’s dedication to inclusive climate policies.

The Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change, Omotenioye Majekodunmi, said, "The evidence is impossible to ignore: flooding, migration, farmer-herder conflicts, rising temperatures. These are no longer isolated environmental problems. They are daily realities affecting lives, livelihoods, and human dignity across the country."

Other notable attendees included Priscilla Achakpa, the founder of the Women Environmental Programme, and Aliyu Ahmed, the Commissioner for Refugees, Migrants, and Internally Displaced Persons. They also promised to support climate justice, especially for vulnerable groups.

The NHRC stated that the launch of the National Working Group is not just about starting another committee. It is a promise.

"A promise that as Nigeria responds to climate change, people, not just policies, will remain at the center of every action. Because protecting the climate should also mean protecting humanity.

"After all, when people suffer because of climate change, protecting human rights becomes everyone’s responsibility."

Nigeria is experiencing changes in climate patterns with serious effects. Climate change has resulted in unusual rainfall, heat waves, and severe flooding that has displaced communities and ruined farmland.