Stakeholders have reiterated their call for the National Assembly to hasten the passage of the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of Environmental, Social and Health Impact Assessment (ESHIA) Bill.
They made the call at the #DrawTheLine Day of Global Climate Action, a day for climate justice in Abuja on Sunday.
Dr Michael David, the Executive Director of the Global Initiative for Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), said the bill is a key step to protecting the people and the planet.
The bill, he said, broadens the focus beyond just environmental impacts to include social and health considerations.
”It mandates the comprehensive assessment of all projects with significant risks to the environment and human well-being.
”The climate clock indicates that we are less than three years into the irreversible damage of climate change to the planet if urgent action is not taken.
“We are drawing the line against the use of public funds to support destructive industries that fuel floods, fires, heat waves, hunger, and poverty.
“Instead, we demand that public money be invested in building a safer, fairer, and more sustainable future for all Nigerians.
“As climate impacts escalate, we urgently call for climate finance, especially increased support for adaptation financing to protect vulnerable communities.
“So today we join voices with millions around the world for the Draw the Line, a day of global climate action. A united stand against climate injustice, against poverty, against environmental destruction,” David said.
He urged the government to uphold territories of indigenous peoples and traditional communities across Nigeria and elsewhere in the world and to also support climate-led solutions.
He stressed that Africa requires an estimated 53 billion dollars annually to build resilient infrastructure, support smallholder farmers, and achieve food sovereignty.
“We cannot continue borrowing money for adaptation projects that are destroyed by climate disasters, while our people remain saddled with the debt. There should be zero loans for climate adaptation,” he added.
In the same vein, Mr John Makina the Country Director of Oxfam said that the organisation is backing the campaign to ”see how lines can be drawn globally”.
Makina who was represented by Dr Kenneth Akpan, Climate Justice Manager at Oxfam said that the organisation was raising silent issues concerning the climate, most especially in vulnerable African countries.
”Today we are backing this campaign to also lend our voices to end poverty, to end injustice when it comes to climate and also even highlight gender justice, which is one aspect that is always very silent when it comes to dealing with climate issues,” he said.
Makina said Oxfam was also supporting the campaign with capacity training, campaign and every resource needed to also draw attention.
“I also use this opportunity to call on state governments because we are also pushing for state governments to adopt and also create their own state policies,” he said.
Also, Ms Francisca Edeh, Project Coordinator for Oxfam Youth Ambassadors said that young people play vital roles in climate justice and urged that policy makers include youths at all decision making fora on climate justice.
Our correspondent reports that the ESHIA Bill, 2025, is designed to replace the Environmental Impact Assessment Act of 2004.
The new bill aims to create a more comprehensive framework for evaluating the environmental, social, and health impacts of projects in Nigeria, incorporating stronger community participation and enforcement measures.
The bill, which incorporates international best practices to align Nigeria’s environmental governance with global sustainability goals, only passed first reading in March.
The primary objective is to prevent harm to host communities, ecosystems, and public health by integrating assessment into project planning and approval processes.
It aims to ensure that development in Nigeria aligns with sustainability principles, climate resilience, and human rights.