Climate Change and Environmental Governance in Nigeria: A Focus on North Central Region

Abstract

This study examines the intricate relationship between climate change and environmental governance in developing countries, focusing on Nigeria’s North Central region which has a population of approximately 25.4 million people. Climate change significantly affects key aspects of sustainable development including agricultural productivity, water resource management, health security, and biodiversity conservation which are vital for human and economic well-being. The North Central region was selected due to its ecological vulnerability, recurrent flooding, deforestation, and agricultural dependence, making it a critical zone for assessing governance effectiveness in climate adaptation and mitigation. The research assessed three core themes: (i) the effectiveness of Nigeria’s environmental governance framework; (ii) the institutional, political, and socio-economic constraints affecting governance; and (iii) strategies for strengthening governance and enhancing resilience. Using a quantitative survey design with 400 respondents, data were analysed through descriptive statistics (means, frequencies, and percentages) and inferential statistics, particularly a multiple linear regression model to test the predictive influence of governance strategies (funding, capacity building, awareness, and anti-corruption) on environmental governance effectiveness. Findings revealed that Nigeria’s environmental governance framework is perceived as moderately effective, with significant disparities in assessments across respondent categories. Institutional weaknesses, inadequate funding, and political constraints emerged as the most critical barriers. Although the regression results were statistically non-significant (p > 0.05), they showed that participation (β = 0.37) and accountability (β = 0.29) were significant predictors of governance effectiveness. Strategies such as increased funding, institutional capacity building, and multi-stakeholder collaboration were identified as the most impactful for enhancing resilience. The study concludes that Nigeria must prioritize institutional strengthening, resource mobilization, and community participation to advance effective climate governance. A multi-stakeholder, cross-sectoral approach is recommended to align national climate commitments with local realities. Ultimately, this research contributes to policy reform discourse by providing evidence-based insights that can guide national and regional strategies for achieving climate resilience and sustainable development goals in Nigeria’s North Central region.