…FG says $195bn needed for mitigation and $141.5bn for adaptation to meet NDC 3.0 goals; NCCC inaugurates steering committee, EU pledges support as government seeks private capital and international climate finance to drive low-emission growth.
By Danjuma Amodu
Nigeria will need an estimated $337 billion over the next decade to achieve its 2035 emissions reduction target and strengthen climate resilience, the Federal Government has said.
The figure was disclosed on Thursday in Abuja by the Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change, Dr. Omotenioye Majekodunmi, at the official launch and socialisation of Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution 3.0, NDC 3.0.
The event also featured the inauguration of the National Steering Committee for the implementation of NDC 3.0, the Net-Zero Investment Plan and the Long-Term Low-Emissions Development Strategy.
Majekodunmi said Nigeria aims to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 32 per cent by 2035, using 2018 as baseline, en route to net-zero by 2060.
She broke down the requirement to $195 billion for mitigation and $141.5 billion for adaptation between 2026 and 2035, covering emission cuts, community resilience and protection of critical infrastructure.
She said the socialisation was to acquaint MDAs, states and development partners with the commitments in NDC 3.0 and align sectoral plans with financing and technology needs.
According to her, the document must be treated as a national development instrument, not merely an environmental policy, given the escalating impact of flooding, heatwaves, coastal erosion and other climate stressors on livelihoods, food security and public services.
She said implementation would require credible investment pipelines, improved public financing, access to concessional windows and climate funds, and large-scale private capital.
The Steering Committee, she added, will provide strategic direction, coordinate responsibilities across MDAs, drive resource mobilisation and enforce monitoring, reporting and accountability.
Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, in his keynote, said NDC 3.0 offers a chance to align climate ambition with economic priorities.
Akume said the Net-Zero Investment Plan should translate decarbonisation targets into bankable projects, but urged MDAs to mainstream climate actions into budgets and work plans. He said the transition must be inclusive, protect vulnerable groups and support energy access, jobs and industrial growth.
He called on state governments, private sector, research institutions and civil society to take ownership of implementation.
Speaking for the development partners, the EU Head of Section for Digital and Green Economy, Yolanda San Jose, reaffirmed EU support through technical assistance, policy cooperation and investment mobilisation.
She noted that NDC 3.0 targets a 29 per cent cut in absolute emissions by 2030 and 32 per cent by 2035, with 20 per cent expected to be funded domestically and 80 per cent hinged on international support.
San Jose said the EU supported the revision process, including the addition of waste as a priority sector, circular economy integration, negotiators’ capacity building and carbon market development, adding that delivery would depend on partnership strength.
Minister of Livestock Development, Alhaji Idi Mukhtar Maiha, said climate change is already undermining livestock productivity through rising temperatures, drought, flooding and pasture loss.
He said the ministry is promoting climate-smart livestock systems through improved feed, animal health, herd and manure management, and has started a methane baseline survey under the World Bank-assisted Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project.
Maiha disclosed that digital weather stations are being installed at livestock development centres to track atmospheric conditions, while calling for more investment in water, fodder systems, disease surveillance and early warning to support smallholders, pastoralists, women and youths.
Participants at the launch said government must move beyond declarations to clear roles, timelines, financing plans and measurable indicators for tracking emissions, adaptation and development outcomes.
