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Climate change has become a major governance challenge in Nigeria, with Kogi State experiencing recurrent flooding and rising temperatures due to its location at the confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue. This study examines climate change and governance in Kogi State between 1999 and 2023, with the objective of assessing the nature of climate change impacts and evaluating the effectiveness of government responses across different administrations. The study is anchored on governance theory, which explains how institutional capacity, coordination and policy choices shape environmental outcomes. A qualitative research design was adopted, relying on secondary data from government reports, academic journals, news articles and publications of national and international organisations. The findings reveal that flooding and extreme heat have caused widespread displacement, loss of livelihoods and damage to infrastructure, particularly in Lokoja and riverine communities. Although successive state governments implemented measures such as emergency relief, resettlement projects, flood barriers and institutional collaborations, most responses were reactive and short-term, with limited impact on reducing long-term vulnerability. The study concludes that climate change impacts in Kogi State are closely linked to governance weaknesses, including poor planning, weak enforcement and inadequate adaptation policies. It therefore recommends mainstreaming climate change into state development planning, expanding permanent resettlement programmes, strengthening flood and heat mitigation infrastructure, improving local government capacity and sustaining partnerships with relevant stakeholders to enhance climate resilience and sustainable development in Kogi State.