Vice President Shettima Calls for Global Collaboration to Address Illegal Migration and Climate Change

 Vice President Kashim Shettima has urged international cooperation to tackle illegal migration and climate change, describing them as interconnected global challenges threatening Nigeria’s stability. 

Speaking at the 2025 African Migration Summit in Abuja on Wednesday, June 18, Shettima emphasized the need for partnerships to address root causes like environmental degradation, conflict, and economic hardship driving migration across Africa.

Shettima highlighted Nigeria’s vulnerability, noting that 3.4 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the North-East, per 2024 UNHCR data, are linked to Boko Haram insurgency and desertification. He cited Lake Chad’s 90% shrinkage since the 1960s, which has fueled herder-farmer clashes and forced migration. “Climate change is not just an environmental issue; it’s a security and economic crisis,” he said, advocating for reforestation and renewable energy investments. Shettima also called for stricter border controls and repatriation agreements to curb illegal migration to Europe, which saw 150,000 Nigerian attempts in 2024, per the International Organization for Migration.

The summit, attended by AU representatives and EU delegates, aligns with Nigeria’s commitment to the 2018 Global Compact for Migration. Critics argue that domestic policies, like inadequate IDP funding, undermine Shettima’s global push, with only ₦10 billion allocated in 2025 for North-East reconstruction. The vice president announced a $500 million Nigeria-EU fund for climate resilience projects, targeting 10 states by 2027. The initiative’s success depends on transparent implementation, given Nigeria’s history of mismanaged aid.