Nigeria is advancing its commitment to the Paris Agreement by enhancing its institutional capacity to meet transparency requirements. On January 16, 2025, government officials, civil society representatives, and media personnel gathered in Abuja for training on data collection, processing, and reporting.
The training is part of the Global Environment Facility’s Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency (GEF-CBIT) project, designed to help Nigeria monitor and report its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, track progress on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and provide climate change adaptation and mitigation data.
Mahmud Adam Kambari, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, emphasized the need for a coordinated, whole-of-government approach to address the country’s climate challenges. These include extreme weather, deforestation, and environmental impacts from the fuel industry.
Dr. Joseph Onoja, Director General of the Nigerian Conservation Foundation, stressed the importance of raising awareness and involving all stakeholders in addressing environmental issues. He also advocated for grants rather than loans to fund Nigeria’s climate initiatives, highlighting the barriers posed by high interest rates on loans.
The training event provided a platform to define roles, discuss timelines, and strengthen GHG data management capacity. It also set the stage for collaboration between various stakeholders, ensuring that Nigeria meets its climate goals, including its pledge for net-zero emissions by 2060.
