PRESS RELEASE
CHARS-AFRICA COMMENDS ABIA STATE GOVERNMENT ON DISABILITY-INCLUSIVE CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY VALIDATION: CALLS FOR SUPPORT WITH LEGAL FRAMEWORKS AND EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION.
Aba, Abia State | 1st February, 2026
The African Centre for Human Advancement and Resource Support (CHARS-Africa) commends the Abia State Government, through the Ministry of Environment, for the successful validation of the Abia State Climate Change Policy, with a deliberate and commendable emphasis on disability inclusion and multi-stakeholder participation.
We particularly acknowledge the inclusive stakeholder engagement process which brought together climate desk officers from Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs) and local government. Also participants from disability clusters, women’s groups, farmers’ associations, private sector actors, and civil society organisations, which reflected a participatory governance model consistent with international best practices in climate policy development.
CHARS-Africa notes with approval the policy alignment with the sustainable development vision of Governor Alex Otti, as well as the policy coherence demonstrated across sectors, including green budgeting, climate-friendly infrastructure, renewable energy adoption and environmentally sustainable public projects. These steps reflect practical compliance with the principles of sustainable development, climate resilience, and environmental justice as recognised under global frameworks such as the Paris Agreement, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
We further commend the deliberate integration of disability inclusion in the policy validation process, particularly the contributions of the Abia State Disability Commission and disability-focused organisations, which aligns with Nigeria’s obligations under:
✓ The Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities (Prohibition) Act, 2018
✓ The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)
✓ The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights
✓ The principles of inclusive governance and social protection.
CHARS-Africa affirms that persons with disabilities are disproportionately vulnerable to climate-induced disasters, including flooding, erosion, heat waves, displacement, and food insecurity, thus they must not only be participants in consultations but central actors in climate planning, adaptation, mitigation, and implementation processes.
STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS
While commending this landmark initiative, CHARS-Africa respectfully makes the following policy-strengthening recommendations in line with international standards and Nigeria’s extant legal frameworks:
1. Legal Frameworks
The policy should be backed by enabling legislation or regulatory instruments to ensure enforceability, continuity, accountability and protection from arbitrariness;
2. Disability-Responsive Implementation Frameworks
Clear disability-inclusive climate action guidelines, budgets, and operational protocols should be developed, ensuring accessibility, inclusion, and targeted protection mechanisms for vulnerable populations;
3. Dedicated Climate Justice and Inclusion Fund
A state-level climate justice and inclusion fund to support adaptation, resilience building, disaster response and community-level interventions, especially for vulnerable groups should be established;
4. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Accountability Mechanisms
Structures for transparent monitoring and reporting should be put in place, with civil society and disability group participation, to track implementation, impact and compliance; and
5. Civic Education and Public Awareness
Sustained climate literacy and community sensitisation programmes, particularly in rural and vulnerable communities.
CONCLUSION
CHARS-Africa views the validation of Abia State’s Climate Change Policy as a progressive and forward-looking governance milestone, capable of positioning Abia as a model sub-national government in climate governance, inclusion and environmental justice in Nigeria.
We reaffirm our institutional commitment to supporting rights-based climate governance, inclusive policy development, and sustainable environmental reforms, and call for collaborative and transparent partnerships between government, civil society, communities and development partners during implementation to translate policy into making measurable and people-centred impact.
Climate action must not only be sustainable: it must be just, inclusive, enforceable and accountable.
Signed:
Amaka Biachi Esq.
Executive Director
charsafrica.ng@gmail.com
