The Federal Ministry of Environment, in partnership with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) under the NAP Global Network, has appointed Professor Elias Nankap Lamle as Lead Consultant to integrate peacebuilding into Nigeria’s National Action Plan (NAP) on Climate Change.
Prof. Lamle, a renowned scholar of conflict management and peacebuilding at the University of Jos, will spearhead efforts to embed conflict sensitivity and peacebuilding into the country’s climate adaptation strategies. His mandate includes strengthening the capacity of government agencies, civil society organisations, and subnational actors to address the intersection of climate impacts and insecurity.
The appointment forms part of Nigeria’s ongoing NAP process, supported by the NAP Global Network’s In-Country Support Program, which provides long-term technical expertise to help countries design climate responses that also enhance social cohesion and stability.
Speaking on his appointment, Prof. Lamle said:
“Climate change is not only an environmental challenge—it is also a peace and security challenge. By integrating peacebuilding into Nigeria’s National Action Plan, we are creating adaptation strategies that protect both our environment and our people. This is an opportunity to turn climate risks into pathways for resilience and cooperation.”
A spokesperson for the Ministry of Environment described the appointment as a crucial milestone in Nigeria’s climate policy development:
“This appointment represents a vital step in ensuring that our national climate policies are not only climate-smart but also conflict-sensitive. With Professor Lamle’s leadership, Nigeria is poised to set a standard for linking climate resilience with peacebuilding.”
As Lead Consultant, Prof. Lamle will coordinate the development of training materials, design capacity-building workshops across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, and provide technical guidance on tailoring adaptation measures to reflect conflict realities. The outputs are expected to influence both national and subnational planning processes.
The NAP Global Network, established in 2014 and supported by partners including Austria, Canada, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States, works with developing countries to strengthen climate adaptation planning. Its Secretariat is hosted by IISD.
With this move, Nigeria is taking a leading role in aligning climate resilience with peacebuilding—an approach increasingly recognised as essential for nations grappling with the dual pressures of environmental stress and insecurity.
