UNDP Climate Security and Prevention Facility

I want to begin by thanking UNDP for the tremendous support they have shown me since I was elected Governor. I told the team led by the Country Representative that my door is always open to them and intend to keep it so. Development partners will play a crucial role in actualising our strategic policies. We aim to ensure that activities are efficient and yield the highest impact for our people.

Regional cooperation, especially in the fight against insecurity, is paramount. I am glad that the UNDP has recognised its need for the Northwest, and I believe all the governors are equally committed to using this medium to provide peace and prosperity in our respective states. The work the UNDP has done in the Northeast following years of destructive insecurity in the region is laudable. Understanding the origins of insecurity play a crucial role in peace-building efforts. Your long-standing interactions with my predecessor and other states helped shape the interventions you propose today.

The United Nations Climate Security Mechanism has sought to understand and address the linkages between climate change, peace, and security since 2018, and we are happy that this support has now reached us. Climate change is a global crisis, and innocent people are affected by forces beyond their control.

Increasing desertification in the region has caused significant adverse effects on agricultural and livestock productivity. In Katsina state, 85% of our population survives on agriculture, and any distortion in farming directly affects livelihoods. Livestock now travel greater distances to graze and eventually go through farmlands, a major source of conflict between herders and farmers. Low farm yields lead to lower incomes for families, which can result in crime and conflict. The effects of climate change are widereaching, and our goal as government is to make the necessary investments towards sustainable productivity that will bring development to our people. We must improve irrigation for multiseasonal farming and supply farmers with drought-resistant seeds, fertilizers, and other farming inputs. The agricultural and livestock value chains must also be developed to add value and create employment.

The effects of climate change are exacerbated by banditry and other forms of insecurity, leading to a vicious cycle of low productivity and insecurity in the region. We must be able to apply socioeconomic justice to bring peace and prosperity to the region. The role of effective communication and dispute resolution through traditional and religious institutions will be crucial for long-term success.

I am optimistic that the facilities you will establish can align with the strategic objectives of the various states invited here today to achieve peace and security in the region. We look forward to

welcoming your team and collaborating with your organization on this project. We hope the model we build can serve as an example to other parts of the world.

Thank you.