This study appraises the perception and understanding of Niger Delta farmers of role of national
governments in climate change governance in Nigeria. It also examines grassroots communities'
perception of constraints to adaptation to changing climate in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.
Multi-stage sampling technique was used to interview 400 of heads of farming households in Cross
Rivers, Delta and Rivers States. Analysis of the data utilized simple descriptive statistics while the
results were presented in tables, figures and charts. Two single sex focus group discussions
(FGDs) were conducted in each of the survey states giving a total of six FGDs. Data from the FGDs
complemented the survey results.
Findings of the study indicate that the major constraints to climate change adaptation by farmers in
the Niger Delta are lack of information, low awareness level , irregularities of extension services,
poor government attention to climate problems , inability to access available information, lack of
access to improved crop varieties, ineffectiveness of indigenous methods, no subsidies on
planting materials, limited knowledge on adaptation measures, low institutional capacity, and
absence of government policy on climate change. The results further showed that farmers in the
Niger Delta generally have a low level of awareness of government policies/programmes on climate
change. Furthermore, the study indicates that farmers of the region also have a poor perception of
effectiveness of the policies/programmes and low awareness of the existence and impact of
Committees on Climate Change in the National Assembly. The study concludes that farmers of the
Niger Delta had low awareness of the existence and contributions of Committees of the National
Assembly to climate change governance. The study recommends that the Nigerian legislature
should make deliberate efforts at sensitizing the Nigerian public of activities of its Committees on
Climate Change as this will improve perception and understanding of their activities and impacts
and will in turn lead to a more positive attitude and consequently impact on farmers' adaptation to
climate change in Niger Delta Region.