Bayelsa State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, has called for a multi-level, collaborative governance model to combat the devastating impact of ocean rise and coastal erosion on vulnerable communities in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.
Speaking on Saturday at the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Summit ahead of the 3rd United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, Governor Diri urged global, national, and sub-national actors to align efforts in tackling the environmental threats ravaging coastal regions like Bayelsa.
The summit, co-hosted by the governments of France and Costa Rica and attended by global leaders, scientists, and climate policy experts, featured a high-level panel session themed “Multi-Level Governance of Coastal Cities and Regions.”
Diri, who was a key panellist, stated that the escalating threat of sea level rise and coastal erosion poses an existential risk to Bayelsa and the wider Niger Delta, noting that about 70 percent of Bayelsa’s land is waterlogged and the state borders the Atlantic Ocean on three fronts.
“As a coastal state, Bayelsa lies below sea level and faces immense risks from ocean rise. Our communities are being destroyed or are on the verge of being wiped out,” he warned.
The governor highlighted his administration’s proactive steps in confronting these climate challenges, including the creation of Nigeria’s first sub-national Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in 2024, inspired by President Bola Tinubu’s federal-level initiative in 2023.
“In line with the federal ministry, we have introduced policy innovations such as mangrove restoration to protect our coastlines. But no state can do this alone,” he emphasized.
Diri stressed the need for cooperative governance across all levels, moving beyond competition to a synergistic model that allows vulnerable regions to access critical climate financing and support.
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“We believe there has to be more collaborative governance among stakeholders than the competitiveness we often see,” he added.
“This is the time for national, sub-national and international coordination. The survival of millions depends on it.”
Governor Diri also used the opportunity to urge the global community to expand climate funding access for sub-national governments, particularly those grappling directly with climate-induced disasters.
The Bayelsa delegation to the UNOC3 summit included Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Abraham Ingobere; President of the Ijaw National Congress (INC), Prof. Benjamin Okaba; Commissioner for Marine and Blue Economy, Dr. Faith Zibs-Godwin; Director in the ministry, Mr. Wakedei Ere; and Technical Adviser on International Development and Liaison, Mrs. Funkazi Koroye-Crooks.
Also present at the summit were Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, and delegates from Lagos and Cross River states.
The UNOC3 summit aims to galvanize international commitment and policy actions towards ocean protection, coastal resilience, and sustainable development as nations face mounting threats from climate change, especially in coastal areas.
