By Joy Gadani
—-Stakeholders in Kaduna, North West Nigeria, came together to make input in the ongoing review process of the Kaduna State Environment Policy currently being supported by the Strengthening Peace Resilience in Nigeria (SPRiNG) programme.
The meeting tagged “Strategic Policy Review Session” organized by the Network of Civil Society in Environment (NCSE), was aimed at developing a more inclusive, practical, and forward-looking framework that responds effectively to the realities of climate change, and environmental degradation, and other environmental issues.
Speaking at the meeting, the NCSE Secretary, Zinta Istifanus Akpoko, commended the efforts of the SPRiNG programme in supporting the review of the Kaduna State Environment Policy. He described the exercise as timely and necessary, stressing that the current environmental and climate challenges demand an updated policy framework.
According to Akpoko, the environment policy serves as a guide for the activities and interventions of civil society organizations operating within the sector, making it essential for the document to remain relevant and responsive to emerging issues.
Also speaking, the Head of Research at NCSE, Jeremiah Elisha, noted that the review process presents an important opportunity for civil society organizations to actively engage and contribute meaningful recommendations toward strengthening the policy.
He emphasized that policies must continuously evolve to remain impactful and capable of addressing emerging environmental crises.
“A policy is only as impactful as its ability to evolve. Continuous reviews ensure it addresses emerging crises like global warming, climate change, and environmental degradation,” Elisha said.
The Coordinator of NCSE and Executive Director of Bridge That Gap Initiative (BTG), Gloria Kasang Bulus, also underscored the importance of developing policies that reflect local realities and community needs.
“We must ensure that we have policies that speak to our local context and realities, not just documents that exist on paper,” Bulus stated.
She further observed that although Nigeria has existing climate change frameworks, significant gaps still exist in implementation and citizen ownership.
Gloria stressed the need for a participatory and inclusive review process, warning against approaches that exclude key stakeholders from contributing to the policy development process.
“This time, we want a policy that everyone contributes to and takes ownership of. Climate change affects all of us, regardless of status, gender, or background. So the response must be collective,” she added.
At the meeting also, was SPRiNG Kaduna State representative, Mr Barau Emmanuel, who commended the effort of NCSE in supporting the policy review process.
Participants at the session emphasized that strengthening Kaduna State’s environmental policy would not only improve climate resilience but also support sustainable development, environmental governance, and community participation in addressing ecological challenges across the state.
