The Federal Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) through 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 distinguished scholar of conflict management and peacebuilding at the University of Jos, will lead efforts to embed conflict sensitivity and peacebuilding into the country’s climate adaptation framework. His assignment includes building the capacity of government agencies, civil society organisations, and subnational actors to address the growing link between climate impacts and insecurity.

The initiative is part of Nigeria’s ongoing NAP process, supported by the NAP Global Network’s In-Country Support Program, which provides technical expertise to help nations design climate policies that strengthen resilience while fostering social stability.

In his remarks, Prof. Lamle stressed the importance of connecting environmental and security priorities:
“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 milestone in Nigeria’s climate policy journey:
“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 oversee the development of training materials, organise capacity-building workshops across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones, and provide technical guidance to ensure adaptation strategies address conflict realities. The outcomes are expected to influence both national and subnational climate planning.

Established in 2014, the NAP Global Network—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.

Through this appointment, Nigeria signals its commitment to aligning climate resilience with peacebuilding—an approach increasingly recognised as vital for countries grappling with the dual challenges of environmental stress and insecurity.