By Ladi Patrick-Okwoli
Abdullateef Shittu, Acting Director-General of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) said governors of the 36 states are considering a roadmap for the implementation of climate finance for sustainable development at the state level.
Shittu stated this at the just concluded two-day symposium on ‘state access to climate finance’ organised by UKNIAF in collaboration with the NGF in Abuja.
The acting director general said the governors are committed to providing support in accessing climate finance to implement impactful projects.
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UKNIAF and NGF have partnered to assist state governments unlock funds for projects towards mitigating the impact of climate change in the country.
“As the closest level of government to the people, states are uniquely positioned to understand local challenges and opportunities. By empowering states with the knowledge and tools to access climate finance, we
can ensure that our climate strategies are effective and inclusive.
“This is a unique opportunity for state governments to come together, share experiences and devise strategies that are politically viable, financially feasible and sustainable in the long term.
“This roundtable is not just a forum for discussion, but a platform for actionable
strategies and partnerships that can propel states towards a sustainable and resilient future”.
It would be recalled that many countries including Nigeria have been grappling with the issue of climate change including drought, desertification, rising sea levels, erosion, floods and thunderstorms.
All these have negatively affected humans and animals, and also the ecosystem in Nigeria.
Shittu said NGF in collaboration with other partners would continue to advocate for the resources and policies necessary to address climate change and achieve sustainable development.
He said, “This is a unique opportunity for state governments to come together. The roundtable aims to enable states to share their experience and explore the utilisation of climate change finance to achieve development goals.
On his part, Daniel Kim Chai Yeo, the Senior Climate Advisor, at UKNIAF, said climate change finance should be one of the political priorities in Nigeria.
“The NGF is committed to supporting our states in accessing climate finance to implement impactful projects. By pinpointing and highlighting developmental projects and investments that are politically viable and financially feasible, we aim to create a roadmap for successful climate finance implementation.”
Also, Martine Sobey, the Climate Change and Nature Team Lead, Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), said the organisation has put some projects in place to address climate change in some states in Nigeria.
The roundtable highlights the increasing recognition of the role that subnational entities play in climate action and the growing interest in facilitating their access to climate finance.