The Special Adviser on Climate Change to the Katsina State Government, Prof. Mohammed Al-Amin, says Gov. Dikko Radda’s climate action policies are transforming climate-induced conflicts into opportunities for peace, economic growth and environmental restoration.

Al-Amin stated this in a feature highlighting the impact of the newly inaugurated Jibia Climate Peace Hub, describing it as a model for addressing the link between climate change, insecurity and poverty in North-West Nigeria.

According to him, the hub, established through a partnership involving the Katsina State Government, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Norway, is already helping to reduce tensions between farmers and herders while creating new economic opportunities for residents.

He said the initiative was part of Radda’s climate-security agenda aimed at tackling the root causes of banditry and communal conflicts through sustainable livelihoods and improved management of natural resources.

“Climate change is the silent fuel of banditry and farmer-herder clashes. When pastures disappear and water becomes scarce, conflicts emerge.

“The Jibia Climate Peace Hub provides practical solutions through dialogue, skills acquisition and climate-smart agriculture,” he quoted the governor as saying.

Al-Amin noted that the governor had elevated climate change to a cabinet-level priority by creating the Office of the Special Adviser on Climate Change, making Katsina one of the few states in Nigeria with a structured climate governance framework.

He added that the state government backed its commitment with substantial funding, including over N8 billion allocated to climate adaptation, erosion control, watershed management, afforestation and early warning systems in the 2025 budget.

The adviser explained that one of the hub’s major achievements was the establishment of a conflict-resolution mechanism where farmers and herders meet regularly to resolve disputes over land, grazing routes and water resources before they escalate into violence.

He said the programme had also trained hundreds of farmers on climate-smart agricultural practices, including drought-resistant farming, soil conservation and the use of weather information for farm planning.

According to him, similar climate adaptation training programmes are being implemented across several local government areas to improve food security and strengthen community resilience.

Al-Amin further said the hub was empowering youths and women through vocational training in solar energy installation, entrepreneurship and financial literacy, reducing unemployment and vulnerability to recruitment by criminal groups.

He noted that the state government was simultaneously pursuing large-scale afforestation projects, including the planting of 35,000 fruit trees in each local government area, school-based tree planting campaigns and landscape restoration programmes under the Dikko Greens initiative.

The adviser said Katsina’s climate interventions had attracted growing international recognition, positioning the state as a reference point for climate-security programming in the Sahel region.

He explained that the Jibia Climate Peace Hub combines technical support from UNDP, funding from the Norwegian Government and operational backing from the Katsina State Government to deliver climate resilience and peacebuilding outcomes.

Al-Amin quoted the governor as saying that the success recorded in Jibia had encouraged plans to replicate the model in other frontline local government areas affected by environmental degradation and insecurity.

He said the visible signs of progress included improved community relations, returning displaced families, revitalised economic activities and increased cooperation among resource users.

According to him, the Jibia experience demonstrates that climate action can serve as a powerful tool for promoting peace, restoring livelihoods and strengthening security in vulnerable communities.

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The Federal Government says it will strengthen and review existing laws on the protection of endangered species to curb their rapid extinction across the country.

Dr Ama Moses, Director of Forestry Department, Federal Ministry of Environment, disclosed this on Friday in Kano during a two-day workshop on Reducing Demand for Vultures in Traditional Medicine Practices.

The workshop was organised by the ministry in collaboration with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF).

Represented by Tijjani Ahmad Zakirai, Moses said the bill had been passed by both chambers of the National Assembly and would be signed into law soon.

“When enacted, the legislation will prescribe stiffer penalties for those involved in hunting endangered species, and will serve as a tool to curb wildlife trade,” he said.

He said the Federal Government had taken several measures to address the menace, including the development of a National Vulture Conservation Plan aimed at reversing the declining population of vultures.

Other measures include nationwide awareness, education and sensitisation campaigns as well as stakeholder engagement on the ecological importance of vultures.

Also speaking, the Director-General of NCF, Dr Joseph Onoja, represented by the Species Programme Lead, Dr Stella Egbe, said the forum provided an opportunity to promote vulture conservation efforts across the country.

In his welcome address, NCF Northern Zonal Coordinator, Alhaji Garba Boyi, said the engagement aimed to bring stakeholders together to strategise on reducing threats to endangered species.

Special Adviser to Gov. Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano State on Wildlife Conservation, Alhaji Ahmad Sawaba, said the state government was honoured to host the event, which was aimed at protecting endangered species nationwide.

A traditional herbalist, Sani Tsamiya Babba (Sarkin Shimfida), explained the traditional medicinal use of vultures, stressing the need for public enlightenment on alternatives.

This paper reports that the workshop, themed Reducing the Demand for Vultures in Belief-Based Use Practices, drew participants from traditional healers, herbal medicine practitioners, conservation groups, NGOs, government agencies and the media.

It also featured paper presentations and discussions on conservation strategies.

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The Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Media Network has been inaugurated in Kano State during a three-day capacity-building workshop in the state capital.

The inauguration ceremony, held at Tahir Guest Palace on Saturday, led to the emergence of new executive members of the network.

Abdullahi Jalaludeen of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) was elected chairman, while Farida Umar of ARTV was elected secretary.

Muhammad Nur Tijani of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and Bashir Bashir of Nasara Radio were elected Public Relations Officer and treasurer, respectively.

The workshop trained 11 media practitioners drawn from various organisations on key thematic areas, including the role of the media in strengthening WASH systems in Kano State.

Other areas covered included story development on WASH issues, budget monitoring and tracking in the WASH sector, advocacy journalism, and the use of social media for WASH reporting.

Participants are also scheduled to embark on a field trip to Makoda Local Government Area as part of the practical component of the training.

Facilitators at the workshop included Wale Elekolusi, Theola Monday, Ferdinand Anok, Blessing Oladunjaye, Mustafa Hassan and Ezekiel Sukumun.

Following their inaugural meeting, the newly elected executives called on the Kano State Government to assent to the WASH Policy Bill, describing it as essential to the advancement of water, sanitation, and hygiene services in the state.

Jalaludeen, the newly elected chairman, stressed the importance of the bill in sustaining progress on WASH.

“The bill is not just about regulation; it is about saving lives, ensuring clean water, and maintaining our Open Defecation Free (ODF) status, especially in vulnerable communities.

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