Climate change intensifying insecurity in Nigeria, says chief of air staff

Hassan Abubakar, the chief of air staff, says the air force has taken steps to address the security challenges caused by climate change in the country. 

Abubakar, while delivering a virtual lecture for participants of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies’ senior executive course 45, said while climate change is not the sole cause of conflicts, it has intensified pre-existing factors that lead to conflicts, which in turn diminishes peoples’ capacity to manage it.

He added that to mitigate the effects of climate change on national security, the air force has adopted kinetic and disaster relief operations as well as green practices and technologies.

“For instance, irregular and extreme weather at Lake Chad is destroying the profitability of traditional fishing and farming, thus reducing the economic prospects of young men in the area thereby making them more susceptible to recruitment by violent extremists,” Abubakar said.

“The consequence is its negative impact on national security leading to humanitarian crises, terrorism and insurgency.

“Through kinetic operations, the NAF has continued to create favourable ground situations for surface forces to operate and recover lost territories from terrorists and insurgents.

“Kinetic efforts have also contributed to degrading the fighting will and capabilities of terrorists, insurgents, bandits, kidnappers and oil thieves thereby creating a safer and more secure environment for economic and industrial activities to thrive.”

Abubakar further said the NAF has made deliberate efforts to integrate climate change considerations into its operations and planning which led to the air force participation in the 2021 Global Air Forces on Climate Change organised by the Royal Air Force, United Kingdom.