By Esi-ife Arogundade
Over 40 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have united to form the Nigerian Climate Justice Movement (CJM), with the aim of addressing the severe impacts of climate change on the African continent.
The movement was officially launched during a landmark two-day event in Abuja, on May 6 and May 7, 2025, where a declaration was issued that emphasizes the commitment of CSOs to hold corporations accountable for environmental damage and biodiversity loss.
Spearheaded by Greenpeace Africa, the CJM seeks to connect disparate climate advocacy efforts under one umbrella, creating a collective voice to address the disproportionate effects of climate change faced by communities across Africa.
“This declaration represents a turning point for grassroots environmental movements in Nigeria,” stated Ogunlade Olamide Martins, Associate Director for Climate Change at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).
“By uniting under the Climate Justice Movement, we amplify our collective power and create a platform for community voices to inform solutions.” Sherelee Odayar, an Oil and Gas Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa, criticized the legacy of environmental degradation caused by major oil companies, particularly Shell.
“For decades, oil giants have profited from Nigerian resources while leaving devastated ecosystems and broken communities in their wake,” Odayar remarked. The recent media investigations highlighting Shell’s negligence in the Niger Delta exemplify the urgency for action, as the Movement sends a clear message that it’s time for polluters to face consequences for their actions.
The urgency for this movement is underscored by the severe climate events Nigeria has faced. Between July and October 2024 alone, floods affected 34 states, displacing over 4 million people and resulting in more than 300 casualties.
Past disasters, such as the 2022 floods, further highlighted the urgent need for systemic climate solutions, with over 600 lives lost and widespread destruction affecting millions.
Cynthia Moyo, a Climate and Energy Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa, emphasized the need for a just transition that recognizes the realities of African communities. “This movement isn’t just about addressing past damages; it’s about shaping a future that genuinely protects our communities from climate impacts and false solutions,” she stated. Elizabeth Atieno, Food Security Campaigner at Greenpeace Africa, drew attention to the alarming connection between pollution and food security.
“Contaminated lands in the Niger Delta have caused a food crisis that especially harms women and children,” she explained. “Climate justice is about ensuring food sovereignty against corporate environmental abuses.” Another advocate for the movement, Ibrahim Muhammad Shamsuddin, Program Manager at Yanayl Haki Afriqya, highlighted the role of youth in this advocacy.
“We refuse to inherit a country where profits take precedence over people and planet,” he asserted, emphasizing the pledge to turn environmental advocacy in Nigeria into a unified force for positive change.
The CJM declaration includes several key demands, such as the immediate remediation of polluted sites in the Niger Delta, compensation for affected communities, an end to gas flaring, a transition to renewable energy infrastructure, and the rejection of ineffective solutions like carbon trading.
With the Nigerian Climate Justice Movement being the fourth of its kind—following successful launches in the DRC, Cameroon, and Ghana—the coalition now aims to implement a coordinated action plan, engage government authorities, and expand its reach throughout West Africa.
