Climate Justice, Human Security, and the Future of Climate Policy in Nigeria

Climate change is no longer a distant threat for Sub-Saharan Africa—it is already reshaping lives, livelihoods, and human security in Nigeria. This paper explores the structural, political, and justice dimensions of Nigeria’s climate crisis through a political economy and human security framework, examining how power relations, governance capacity, and inequality shape adaptation outcomes. The study’s objectives are threefold: (i) to assess the institutional and socioeconomic dimensions of Nigeria’s climate vulnerability, (ii) to analyse the justice implications of existing policy responses, and (iii) to propose a locally anchored framework for equitable climate governance. Methodologically, it employs a qualitative policy analysis design, combining document review, field interviews, and secondary data synthesis from national and multilateral sources. The findings reveal that 43% of Nigeria’s land is degraded by desertification, displacing over 40 million people, while 30–40 metres of shoreline erosion occur annually in the south. Yet, donor-driven frameworks still dominate policy responses, marginalising local knowledge and justice concerns. The paper argues for a re-centring of Nigeria’s climate policy around human security, distributive justice, and intergenerational equity, integrating local knowledge systems and inclusive governance. Ultimately, it reimagines climate policy not merely as technical compliance with global norms but as a moral and developmental project rooted in dignity, fairness, and resilience. Keywords: Climate Justice; Human Security; Political Economy; Climate Governance, Nigeria