By Atoyebi Nike
Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State has called for a united response from governments and stakeholders worldwide to tackle the mounting threat of sea level rise and coastal erosion, which he says is endangering communities across the Niger Delta.
Speaking at the Ocean Rise and Coastal Resilience Summit held ahead of the United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC) in Nice, France, the governor stressed the need for a multi-level governance approach to climate challenges.
“Bayelsa lies below sea level, and about 70% of its land is covered by rivers, bordering the Atlantic Ocean on three fronts,” Diri said during a panel session themed “Multi-Level Governance of Coastal Cities and Regions.”
He warned that several communities are already facing severe impacts and risk being completely wiped out if urgent steps are not taken.
Diri said his administration had introduced innovative responses, including the creation of Nigeria’s first sub-national Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy in 2024, modeled after the federal ministry established by President Bola Tinubu in 2023.
“We’re also pushing for mangrove restoration to protect our riverine ecosystems,” he said. “But we cannot do this alone. We need synergy across federal, state, and global levels to tackle this existential threat.”
The governor, who addressed the summit over the weekend, called for increased access to climate finance for vulnerable states like Bayelsa, arguing that competitiveness among governments must give way to cooperation.
“We need a collaborative governance model that includes all stakeholders—national, sub-national, and international. This is not the time for rivalry but for partnership,” he said.
The summit, co-hosted by France and Costa Rica, is one of the lead-up events to the UN Ocean Conference, which runs from June 9 to 13. Diri’s participation underscores Bayelsa’s push to bring global attention to the region’s climate vulnerabilities.
