28/04/2026
On April 22, 2026, The Executive Director of GESA Initiative participated along side with Dr. Olayinka Babalola, Country Director, International Budget Partnership (IBP), Tijah Bolton-Akpan, Deputy National Coordinator, RJN and Nigeria the Country Director BUDGIT at the launch ceremony of Resource Justice Network Nigeria. The event marked a significant moment in strengthening advocacy for transparency, accountability, and justice in Nigeria’s extractive sector—while anchoring these efforts in the principles of a just transition, green energy access, and climate-resilient development.
At the Abuja gathering, experts highlighted a critical paradox: despite decades of oil production and billions in revenue, many resource-rich communities, especially in the Niger Delta remain among the poorest and most marginalized. Environmental degradation, loss of livelihoods, exclusion from decision-making, and growing climate vulnerability were identified as persistent, interlinked challenges.
Speakers emphasized that Nigeria’s extractive model has historically concentrated wealth among elites while forcing host communities to bear the environmental and social costs. The call to action was clear:
· Strengthen governance and accountability systems to support a just and green resource transition
· Ensure fair distribution of resource benefits, including targeted investments in decentralized renewable energy
· Prioritize environmental restoration and community-led climate adaptation in fossil fuel-dependent regions
· Promote community participation in both extractive governance and energy transition planning
The event also underscored the urgency of a just transition, ensuring that as Nigeria moves toward renewable energy, it does not repeat the same patterns of exclusion, pollution, and disempowerment seen in the fossil fuel era. This means putting frontline communities at the center of decisions, protecting livelihoods, and building local green economies.
Importantly, the launch and discussions reinforced the role of civil society in shaping policies that protect vulnerable populations, expand civic space, accelerate clean energy access, and drive inclusive, climate-informed development across Nigeria
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