FCT communities embrace climate action as HipCity drives grassroots adaptation push
Residents of Mpape, Katampe, Dutse-Pe, and Dutse Alhaji communities in the Federal Capital Territory are beginning to adopt practical steps toward climate resilience following grassroots awareness and training sessions aimed
Residents of Mpape, Katampe, Dutse-Pe, and Dutse Alhaji communities in the Federal Capital Territory are beginning to adopt practical steps toward climate resilience following grassroots awareness and training sessions aimed at strengthening local responses to climate change impacts.
HipCity Innovation Centre implemented the intervention between March and April 2026 under its project titled “Addressing Climate Risk and Adaptation Measures in Abuja’s Unplanned Settlements,” with support from MISEREOR.
Bassey Bassey, Executive Director of HipCity Innovation Centre, said the initiative was designed to move climate conversations beyond theory into everyday community realities through Climate Change Awareness Trainings, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs).
According to him, the goal was to deepen understanding of environmental challenges while encouraging community-led adaptation strategies.
“There is a quiet shift happening across Abuja’s informal settlements. It is not loud, not dramatic, but you can feel it in conversations under trees, in community halls, at the chiefs' palaces, and in the way people now talk about their environment,” he said.
Bassey added that “across these communities, one thing became clear. Climate change is no longer a distant concept. It is already shaping daily life.”
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During the engagements, facilitators worked with residents in palaces, schools, community halls, and open spaces, using simplified discussions tailored to local experiences rather than technical language.
In Mpape, participants raised concerns about rapid urban expansion and environmental pressure.
In Katampe, residents pointed to heat stress and drainage challenges, while those in Dutse-Pe and Dutse Alhaji highlighted flooding, water scarcity, and increasing livelihood strain.
Bassey explained that the sessions were deliberately structured around everyday realities to ensure better understanding and participation.
“There was no rush to impress with technical language. Instead, discussions were built around everyday experiences,” he said, noting that facilitators engaged residents on rising temperatures, flooding, and human activities affecting the environment.
The programme also featured focus group discussions and key informant interviews, where residents shared firsthand experiences of climate impacts.
“Farmers talked about reduced yields. Traders mentioned how extreme weather disrupts business. Others shared concerns about health, water shortages, and the growing discomfort from heat,” he stated.
Community leaders, according to the report, observed that “seasons are no longer predictable, and traditional coping systems are being stretched.”
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A key aspect of the intervention was vulnerability mapping, where residents identified flood-prone areas, fire-risk zones, areas affected by water scarcity, and locations experiencing severe heat stress.
Bassey noted that “this exercise did something important. It shifted the conversation from general awareness to specific action.”
Residents also proposed community-driven solutions, including improved waste management, drainage clearance, better water storage systems, and increased adoption of renewable energy such as solar power.
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The initiative further identified active community members for continued engagement in advocacy, storytelling, and mobilisation aimed at strengthening grassroots climate action.
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Post-training assessments indicated improved understanding of climate change among participants, with organisers noting a shift from passive awareness to active engagement.
Across all four communities, the programme recorded strong participation, increased awareness, active dialogue, and positive reception from residents and traditional leaders.
Bassey said while climate change remains a growing challenge, “people are asking questions. They are connecting experiences. They are thinking ahead,” adding that meaningful change is beginning “quietly, from within.”
However, he stressed the need for urgent government intervention through relevant MDAs to make informal settlements more livable, noting that these communities form a major part of the city’s workforce yet remain highly vulnerable to climate impacts.
HipCity Innovation Centre, he added, is calling for co-created solutions between government agencies and communities to strengthen resilience and improve adaptation capacity across affected areas.
