By Luminous Jannamike

ABUJA – In a major push for environmental justice, over 40 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) across Nigeria have launched the Climate Justice Movement (CJM), demanding accountability from multinational oil corporations and the Federal Government for decades of environmental degradation, biodiversity loss, and worsening climate impacts.

The coalition is also calling for urgent policy reforms, compensation for affected communities, and an end to exploitative climate practices.

The CJM was formally launched following a two-day gathering in Abuja, where key stakeholders signed a declaration reaffirming their commitment to climate justice and environmental accountability.

Speakers at the event included Ogunlade Olamide Martins, Associate Director (Climate Change) at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA); Sherelee Odayar, Oil and Gas Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa; Cynthia Moyo, Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa; Elizabeth Atieno, Food Security Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa; and Ibrahim Muhammad Shamsuddin, Programme Manager at Yanayi Haki Afriqya.

Ogunlade Olamide Martins said: “This declaration marks a turning point for grassroots environmental movements in Nigeria. For too long, our efforts have been disjointed, despite facing common threats from extractive industries. By uniting under the Climate Justice Movement, we magnify our collective strength and create space for community voices to shape solutions.”

The Climate Justice Movement seeks to unify fragmented climate voices under one coordinated platform to address the disproportionate impact of climate change on African communities.

The declaration also demands stronger regulations against corporate environmental abuses and rejects ‘false solutions’ such as carbon trading.

Sherelee Odayar of Greenpeace Africa stated: “For decades, oil giants like Shell have reaped billions in profits from Nigerian land while leaving behind devastated ecosystems and broken communities. Recent media investigations exposing Shell’s negligence in the Niger Delta exemplify the toxic and exploitative legacy communities have endured for generations.”

In a similar vein, Cynthia Moyo added: “Nigeria stands at a crossroads in its energy future. As we witness intensifying floods in the Niger Delta and advancing desertification in the North, it is clear that climate change demands systemic solutions. This movement is not just about climate change—it’s about forging a just transition that centres African communities and rejects false solutions that merely perpetuate exploitation.”

The CJM declaration outlines several core demands, including: immediate clean-up of oil-polluted sites in the Niger Delta, compensation for impacted communities, an end to gas flaring, a transition to renewable energy, and policy measures that protect community rights.

Elizabeth Atieno stressed the link between pollution and food insecurity: “Oil spills have polluted once-fertile soils and fishing waters across the Niger Delta, creating a food crisis that disproportionately affects women and children. When farmers cannot farm and fisherfolk cannot fish, entire communities face malnutrition and economic collapse. Climate justice is ultimately about safeguarding the right to food sovereignty against corporate environmental abuse.”

Despite contributing the least to global emissions, Africa faces some of the harshest climate impacts. Between July and October 2022, floods affected 34 Nigerian states, displacing over 4 million people, killing more than 600, and damaging hundreds of thousands of hectares of farmland. These disasters highlight Nigeria’s vulnerability and underscore the urgency of coordinated climate action.

Ibrahim Muhammad Shamsuddin captured the urgency from the perspective of Nigerian youth: “The youth of Nigeria are calling for accountability from both corporations and policymakers. We refuse to inherit a country where profit consistently trumps people and planet. Having experienced the harsh realities of climate change first-hand, this declaration is our vow to transform environmental advocacy in Nigeria—from fragmented campaigns into a powerful, unified movement pushing for access to a safe and healthy environment, which is a fundamental human right.”

CJM Nigeria marks the fourth regional launch following similar initiatives in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Cameroon, and Ghana. The coalition includes organisations across sectors such as ocean conservation, forest protection, community rights, and climate advocacy.

Looking ahead, the coalition pledged to implement a coordinated action plan, engage with government authorities, and work to expand the Climate Justice Movement across West Africa.