The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, has praised the Nigeria Climate Change Response Programme (NCCRP) for strengthening climate governance, raising awareness and improving resilience across sectors.
Speaking at the NCCRP Final Project Seminar in Abuja, Lawal said the programme, launched in 2020, has delivered key outcomes at national and subnational levels, including the establishment of a Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) system and the development of a Climate Change Education Curriculum to improve waste management and climate communication.
He noted that the programme enhanced collaboration among Ministries, Departments and Agencies, built technical capacity and promoted community participation. Lawal highlighted the climate education curriculum for schools, media training that led to the creation of the Nigeria Journalists for Climate Action Network (NIJOCAN), and progress in greenhouse gas measurements in the waste sector across several states.
Despite challenges, he said the programme stayed on track through strong planning and collaboration, reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to sustaining and expanding its impact. He commended the European Union and other partners for their support.
Also speaking, the EU Head of Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, described the NCCRP as a model of effective international partnership and reaffirmed the EU’s support for Nigeria’s climate action efforts. He said Nigeria’s leadership in climate governance is vital for Africa and the global climate response, noting that the programme has strengthened transparency and positioned the country to attract climate investment.
