President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday unveiled a 10-year, $250 million initiative to restore livelihoods and empower Nigerians displaced by floods and other climate-related disasters.
The Climate-Resilient Livelihoods Empowerment Programme for Displaced Populations (CLEP4DPS) was announced during a special event on climate-induced mobility under Nigeria’s chairmanship of the Rabat Process, which brought together global leaders and development partners to discuss the link between climate change, migration, security, and development.
According to the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Yomi Odunuga, Tinubu, represented by the SGF, Senator George Akume, said the programme would focus on long-term empowerment rather than emergency relief.
“The programme is built on the premise that economic empowerment is a critical form of climate adaptation,” the President said.
The initiative will support displaced Nigerians through climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy entrepreneurship, climate data and digital employment, green value chains, and leadership tracks for women and youth.
Tinubu added that CLEP4DPS complements other interventions under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including the Global Flood Disaster Management Project, which prioritises early warning systems, resilient infrastructure, and disaster coordination.
He noted that the Federal Government has also provided targeted relief, resettlement, and recovery efforts through initiatives like the Resettlement City Project, offering planned communities access to basic services and livelihood support.
Describing climate change as a major driver of human mobility, Tinubu said, “For Nigeria, climate-induced displacement is a lived reality rather than a distant threat.”
He cited the 2022 floods that affected over 4.4 million people and displaced about 2.4 million across more than 30 states. “Environmental degradation in the Lake Chad Basin, coastal erosion along Nigeria’s shoreline, and desertification in other regions have undermined livelihoods and forced communities to migrate in search of survival,” he said.
Calling for stronger global collaboration, Tinubu said, “Climate-induced mobility is a transnational challenge that no country can address alone. Nigeria remains committed to inclusive partnerships, evidence-based policymaking, and sustained dialogue within the Rabat Process.”
He expressed gratitude to Switzerland, the European Union, the International Centre for Migration Policy Development, and other partners, noting: “We hope this engagement leads to concrete collaboration linking climate action, migration governance, and sustainable development.”
Nigeria has in recent years faced worsening climate-related disasters, including flooding, desertification, and coastal erosion, displacing millions and disrupting livelihoods across multiple states.
