World Earth Day 2026: YEAC-Nigeria Calls for Urgent Climate Action, Environmental Justice
The Youths and Environmental Advocacy Centre (YEAC-Nigeria) has called for urgent and collective action to address Nigeria’s worsening environmental challenges, as the world marks the 56th World Earth Day today, Wednesday April 22, 2026.
Themed “Our Power, Our Planet,” this year’s celebration emphasises the role of communities and individuals in driving sustainable environmental change.
In a press statement signed by its Executive Director, Fyneface Dumnamene, YEAC-Nigeria joined the global community in amplifying the need for people-driven solutions to the growing climate crisis.
The organisation stressed that environmental progress must extend beyond government policies and be rooted in everyday actions by citizens.
According to the group, the theme serves as a reminder that safeguarding the environment is not dependent on political cycles but on consistent efforts by communities, educators, workers, and young people.
It noted that this message is particularly significant in Nigeria, especially in the environmentally vulnerable Niger Delta region.
Highlighting the current situation in the country, YEAC-Nigeria expressed concern over Nigeria’s early and erratic rainy season. It referenced warnings from the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NiHSA), which indicated that over 14,000 communities across 33 states face a high risk of flooding this year.
The group identified several high-risk areas, including Port Harcourt and parts of Rivers State such as Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, Ahoada West, Ahoada East, and Abua/Odual. These communities, it said, remain highly exposed to the devastating impacts of climate change despite contributing minimally to global emissions.
YEAC-Nigeria also decried the long-standing environmental degradation in the Niger Delta, citing oil pollution, recurrent flooding, and poor waste management as major concerns. It described the situation as one where ecosystems are overwhelmed and livelihoods threatened.
Despite these challenges, the organisation emphasised that citizens still possess the power to demand change and resist environmental injustice. It urged Nigerians not to see themselves as helpless victims but as active participants in shaping a sustainable future.
To address the crisis, YEAC-Nigeria called on government agencies at all levels to urgently desilt drainage systems, enforce environmental regulations, and release comprehensive flood-risk data to aid preparedness efforts. It also urged the National Assembly to strengthen climate laws, including amendments to enforce resilience planning and penalize illegal developments on waterways.
The group further called on oil companies operating in the Niger Delta to end gas flaring by the end of 2026, intensify cleanup of polluted sites, and invest in renewable energy initiatives within host communities. It also encouraged Nigerian youths to remain vocal and organized in advocating for environmental justice.
YEAC-Nigeria appealed to international partners to ensure that climate funding directly benefits grassroots organisations and vulnerable communities. Reaffirming its commitment, the group declared that while environmental damage is driven by human actions, it can also be reversed through collective courage and sustained advocacy.
