Oxfam and civil society leaders at the Power of Voices project close-out in Abuja.
Oxfam Nigeria and its civil society partners have marked the completion of the Fair for All (F4A) and African Activists for Climate Justice (AACJ) programmes, celebrating five years of reforms in climate justice, economic governance, civic space protection and community empowerment across Nigeria.
Speaking at the close-out event in Abuja, Oxfam Country Director, John Makina, described the initiatives as a “five-year journey of courage, partnership, and transformation.”
Makina said the programmes demonstrated what is possible when communities are supported to participate meaningfully in governance and climate resilience.
“We are not simply closing the project; we are celebrating a five-year journey of courage, partnership and transformation, the power of voices and partnership,” he said.
“This journey has been more than a development intervention. It has shifted power, amplified voices, and placed citizens at the centre of governance, climate justice and economic accountability.”
He highlighted key results, including:
- 15,500 seedlings cultivated through community nurseries to restore degraded land.
- 3,500 clean cooking stoves distributed in Bauchi State, reducing emissions and health risks.
- 256 volunteers trained, including persons with disabilities, in briquette production and climate-smart livelihoods.
- N15.5 billion unlocked in climate financing at local government levels through improved budgeting.
- Support for climate-smart agriculture, enabling women and persons with disabilities to grow food independently and earn between N150,000 and N300,000 through green enterprises.
- Establishment of three Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) under the Petroleum Industry Act to strengthen community ownership of extractive resources.
- Submission of a 10% oil derivation proposal to the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly for direct community development.
- Over 10 million Nigerians reached through the “Follow the Money” accountability programmes on radio and TV.
- Formation of FOI coalitions across five states and securing police commitments to protecting civic space.
- Launch of civic clubs across multiple states, with thousands of students engaged and several clubs winning national competitions.
- Training of 500 journalists in climate and environmental reporting.
Makina emphasised the long-term impact of the interventions:
“When people are empowered, systems change. When communities speak, institutions listen. And when justice becomes a collective pursuit, transformation becomes inevitable.”
He thanked the Government of the Netherlands for funding the programmes and recognised implementing organisations, including CISLAC, CODE, BudgIT, GIFSEP, YMCA, and others.
Representing CISLAC, Connected Development (CODE), BudgIT, Digital Delta and other civil society partners, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani described the close-out as a milestone in Nigeria’s struggle for economic justice and climate resilience.
“This is not merely a ceremonial closure. It is a moment of reflection, appreciation and renewed commitment to advancing justice, equity and sustainable development for vulnerable communities,” he said.
Rafsanjani outlined major breakthroughs under the Fair for All programme:
1. Maritime and Trade Reforms
Advocacy supported by Oxfam and CISLAC led to Federal Government approval of $1.048 billion for the rehabilitation of Calabar, Apapa and Warri ports and the creation of a new export terminal in Port Harcourt.
“This milestone will modernize trade corridors, improve export competitiveness and support MSMEs, especially women-led businesses,” he said.
2. Tax Justice and Fiscal Reforms
Evidence from the Fair Tax Monitor exposed unfair tax practices benefiting wealthy corporations and individuals.
The sustained advocacy led to:
- National debate on progressive taxation
- Review of tax waivers and incentives
- Digitalisation of Nigeria’s tax regime
- Passage of four new national tax laws scheduled to take effect in January 2026
3. Transparency and Beneficial Ownership
Civil society collaboration improved compliance with the beneficial ownership register and strengthened debt oversight.
4. Strengthening Subnational Governance
CISLAC and partners established 21 State Tax Justice and Governance Platforms, including one in Abuja, now driving coordinated fiscal reforms.
5. Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs)
Rafsanjani said the National Convergence on HCDTs has become a major accountability mechanism under the PIA.
“It is reducing elite capture and strengthening equity in host community resource management,” he said.
6. Mainstreaming Gender, Youth, Climate and Civic Space Protection
The initiatives ensured strong participation of women, youth, persons with disabilities and environmental justice organisations.
Rafsanjani stressed that although funding has ended, the work must continue.
“We cannot fold our arms simply because there is no more funding from Oxfam. The work must continue because inequalities persist, fiscal leakages weaken growth, and communities still demand transparency.”
He urged civil society and local governments to build on the gains already achieved.
Rafsanjani also praised Oxfam’s approach:
“Unlike some international NGOs that overshadow local organisations, Oxfam empowered local groups to lead development work in their own communities.”
He commended Oxfam Country Director John Makina and recognised project staff and implementing partners.
Extractive Governance Gains
Project partners further noted that the National Convergence on Host Community Development Trusts has become a powerful tool for increasing transparency and ensuring equitable use of the statutory 3% allocation to host communities under the PIA.
They also highlighted progress in:
- Gender inclusion
- Conflict sensitivity
- Environmental justice
- Data-driven advocacy
- Protection of civic space
Collaborations with CODE, BudgIT, KEBETKACHE, and NDEBUMOG helped deepen community empowerment and accountability initiatives.
As the five-year programmes close, partners affirmed that the networks, governance structures and community capacities built through the Fair for All and AACJ projects must be sustained to protect hard-won gains.
Makina concluded that, “We are not ending the journey. We are opening a new chapter—one where the systems, networks and capacities we have built must continue to grow and strengthen.”
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