The Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Niger State, Hon.Yakubu Kolo, has called for climate financing under Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0).
Kolo also urged that the financing be made practical and accessible to states.
He said the sub-nationals hold a central role in both design and implementation.
The Commissioner made the call at the National Stakeholders’ NDC 3.0 Validation Workshop, organised by National Council on Climate Change (NCCC).
The workshop was held on Aug. 27, in Abuja and online.
Stakeholders at the workshop was drawn from government, development partners, civil society and private sector.
It provided an update on Nigeria’s draft NDC 3.0 in preparation for the National Executive’s approval and subsequent submission to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Kolo commended the inclusive and participatory process that guided the development of NDC 3.0.
He noted that states had been given opportunities to provide input.
He, however, stressed the need for those contributions to be adequately reflected in the final document.
“State governments were given the opportunity to provide input which we gladly participated in.
“We therefore hold the process in high esteem to reflect clarity and transparency in its targets, policies, and measures.
“But it must go beyond the rituals of collecting input without reflecting them in the final document,” he said.
The Commissioner emphasised that the new NDC must set clear ambitions that reflect leadership and embed stronger adaptation strategies.
He said it must ensure financing mechanisms that state governments can practically access and utilise.
“As the September submission deadline approaches, NDC 3.0 must align ambition with implementation.
“It should set clear targets that are not just impressive on paper but actionable on the ground,” he added.
“States must be at the centre of Implementation”
Speaking on behalf of subnational governments, Kolo reaffirmed that the NDC must be ambitious, inclusive and credible.
He said the states should be at the centre of implementation, given their frontline role in tackling climate change impacts.
“Anything less would betray our people’s yearnings and squander our chance to lead Africa toward a climate-resilient future.”
Representatives at the Workshop
The validation workshop brought together representatives from the United Nations Development Programme, African Development Bank.
UNICEF, German Corporation for International Cooperation, UN Women and International Labour Organisation were present.
Others were Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, in NGOs, CSOs, youth and disability groups, among others.
