The Centre for Citizens with Disabilities (CCD) has launched a research report on disability-inclusive greenhouse gas emissions and climate change adaptation and mitigation in Nigeria, with stakeholders calling for greater inclusion of persons with disabilities in climate policies and programmes.
The report was launched in Akwa Ibom State at an event attended by representatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Health, National Orientation Agency (NOA), the Special Adviser to the Akwa Ibom State Governor on Disability Matters, civil society organisations (CSOs), and persons with disabilities (PWDs).
In his welcome address, the Acting Director of CCD, Mr. Godwin Unumeri described the study as one of the first comprehensive efforts in Nigeria to examine the relationship between disability, greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. He said feedback from the February 2026 validation workshop had been incorporated into the final report.
Unumeri urged stakeholders across sectors to regard the report’s recommendations as a shared call to action, stressing the need for collaboration, strong policy commitment and adequate resources to achieve disability-inclusive climate action.
The State Director of the National Orientation Agency in Akwa Ibom, Mr. Mkpoutom Mkpoutom, commended the research and highlighted its theme, “PWDs as Agents of Inclusive Climate Action.” He stressed that persons with disabilities should be recognised as active contributors to climate action rather than merely beneficiaries, while calling for climate policies and programmes to be designed with their inclusion in mind.
Representing the Akwa Ibom State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Akaninyene Mark described the report as timely and visionary. He emphasised the need to make disability inclusion a core component of climate policy, emergency preparedness and development planning, noting that climate change also poses significant health risks.
Dr. Mark urged relevant stakeholders to move beyond discussions and translate the report’s recommendations into practical policies and interventions that address the specific needs of persons with disabilities.
The research contains recommendations for the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPWD), Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), government agencies, CSOs, the media and development partners.
Among the key recommendations are the inclusion of persons with disabilities in the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), the conduct of accessibility audits, collection of disability-disaggregated data, capacity building for relevant stakeholders, and the promotion of inclusive budgeting.
The launch reaffirmed the importance of meaningful participation of persons with disabilities in climate action and decision-making processes. CCD called for sustained collaboration among government institutions, civil society, development partners, the media and OPDs to build a more inclusive, accessible and resilient climate response in Nigeria.
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