Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has urged stakeholders in Nigeria, including the government, civil society organizations (CSOs), and development partners to work with radio stations to enhance climate awareness and disaster preparedness.
The organization emphasized that leveraging radio’s widespread reach and influence could help mitigate the worsening impact of climate change in the country.
In a statement released to mark the 2025 World Radio Day, themed “Radio and Climate Change,” MRA stressed the urgent need for the Nigerian government to take decisive climate action while ensuring accountability.
The annual event, celebrated on February 13, explored radio’s important role in shaping societies, fostering free expression, and promoting democratic dialogue. UNESCO designated World Radio Day in 2011 to recognize the medium’s influence worldwide.
Mr. Ayode Longe, Deputy Executive Director of MRA, stated that Nigeria faces severe climate challenges, including floods, desertification, and energy poverty, making it necessary to strengthen radio’s role in bridging the gap between policy and practice.
Longe also explained radio’s importance in amplifying Nigeria’s climate commitments and mobilizing public action.
“As the most accessible medium in Nigeria, radio remains pivotal in disseminating climate education, fostering dialogue, and holding governments accountable,” he said. “Radio’s reach into rural and urban communities positions it as a vital tool for translating complex climate policies into actionable local solutions.”
As a signatory to the Paris Agreement, Nigeria has set ambitious targets, including reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030 and achieving net-zero emissions by 2060. Additionally, the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan aims to universalize energy access by 2030 through investments in solar and hydropower while reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
However, Longe expressed concern over Nigeria’s failure to meet the February 10, 2025, deadline for submitting its updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). “Despite these commitments, Nigeria missed a critical milestone in the Paris Agreement, which is essential for tracking progress toward global climate goals,” he stated.
Further discussing the role of radio in mobilizing collective action, Longe emphasized that its power lies not only in broadcasting information but also in fostering public engagement.
“As Nigeria navigates intersecting climate and economic challenges, let us harness this medium to turn pledges into progress, ensuring no community is left unheard or unprotected,” he urged.
He also stressed the need to protect environmental journalists and broadcasters, who play a key role in holding governments and corporations accountable for their climate commitments.
Longe stressed the importance of media freedom and the safety of journalists who cover climate change issues, arguing that given the crucial role of environmental journalists and broadcasters in holding governments, corporations, and policymakers accountable for their climate commitments, it is imperative that they are protected from threats, censorship, and intimidation.
He, therefore, called on the Nigerian Government to leverage radio’s reach to educate citizens on climate risks and solutions, ensuring that marginalized voices are included in policy dialogues. He also urged the international community to fulfill its climate finance pledges to enable Nigeria and other vulnerable nations to transition equitably.