The federal government has charged Commonwealth nations with streamlining access to international climate finance to support adaptation projects in developing countries.
According to a statement by the Director of Media and Corporate Communications at the National Space Research and Development Agency, Dr Felix Ale, the Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, while speaking at the Commonwealth Roundtable on Climate Finance and Food Security in London, highlighted Nigeria’s bold initiatives to integrate innovation, climate finance, and sustainable agriculture in response to climate change, land degradation, and food insecurity.
“Climate finance is a catalyst for sustainable land use and national development,” Nnaji emphasised, urging Commonwealth nations to simplify the bureaucratic processes that hinder access to international funding.
The statement noted that desertification is advancing at 0.6 kilometres per year in northern Nigeria, and coastal erosion is consuming 30–40 metres of land annually in the south. The stakes have never been higher.
“Flooding, deforestation, and declining agricultural yields further exacerbate food insecurity in Africa’s most populous nation.
“We cannot afford to let climate inaction dictate our food security future,” Nnaji stated, calling for a global commitment to integrating science, technology, and sustainable finance in tackling these challenges.
The statement further explained that under the Nigeria Living Lands Initiative, the country is implementing cutting-edge solutions designed to mitigate environmental degradation while boosting agricultural productivity.
“Some of these initiatives include the restoration of 50,000 hectares of degraded land, which is expected to generate between $2,000 and $3,000 per hectare in farmer income.
“Climate-smart greenhouses are being established to enable year-round crop production, ensuring food stability despite changing weather conditions. The government is also promoting a bamboo value chain development programme to encourage eco-friendly construction, carbon sequestration, and sustainable livelihoods.
“Other initiatives include expanding Low Pressure Compressed Natural Gas adoption through the methanol fuel production and clean cooking initiative to reduce biomass and fossil fuel dependency, which affects 90 per cent of Nigerian households.
“The integrated biodigester network is also transforming organic waste into biogas and fertilisers, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 300,000 tonnes annually while providing clean energy to over 10,000 households.
“Nigeria is leveraging innovative financing mechanisms to scale these projects. Green bonds and climate resilience funds are being expanded, building on Nigeria’s previous Green Bond issuances in 2017 and 2019, which were aimed at funding climate-smart initiatives.
“The government is also encouraging public-private partnerships to drive investments in agricultural value chains, energy-efficient food processing, and sustainable infrastructure.”
Additionally, Nigeria is utilising the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub to unlock global climate finance for climate resilience projects.
The Minister stressed that the complexity of current climate finance frameworks often prevents developing nations from accessing critical funds.
“We must ensure that climate finance is accessible and equitable for all Commonwealth nations,” he said.
Nnaji urged Commonwealth nations to unite in tackling climate-related food security risks.
He proposed the establishment of a Commonwealth Centre for Climate-Smart Agriculture to serve as a knowledge-sharing hub for innovative farming techniques and sustainable food production.
He also called for simplified climate finance access through equitable financial mechanisms to support climate-smart agricultural projects.
In addition, he emphasised the importance of youth and women’s empowerment by encouraging youth-led agritech startups and women-led agricultural enterprises to drive the future of sustainable farming.
He also advocated for increased investments in carbon credit and sustainable agriculture to create new revenue streams through carbon trading and agroforestry programmes.
“This is a shared responsibility,” the Minister declared. “We must rise to the challenge and move forward together,” he stated.
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