Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Stakeholders in the North-Central have welcomed the recent engagement on National Implementation of Nigeria’s revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
The meeting was organised by the Federal Ministry of Environment through the Department of Climate Change (DCC) in Keffi, Nasarawa State.
The workshop aimed at Engaging stakeholders at Sub-National level to ensure effective process for implementation and planning of the updated NDC; building the capacity of stakeholder on how to access Climate Finance for the North Central zone; building the Capacity of sub-nationals on Mitigation and Adaptation measures in climate change.
It also aim at getting inputs from States on proposed project to be in cooperated into the NDCs; discussing steps needed to translate the outcome of COP26 into National commitment; sensitizing and creating more awareness on the recent policies and commitment (Revised NDC, Mr. President Net Zero 2060 pledge.
Alhaji Isa Mohammed, Director, Climate Change, Niger State Ministry of Environment described the meeting as an eye opener.
He said it has increased their knowledge of how to access climate change finance and carbon credit, which was a source of concern in the past.
Similarly, Mrs Ugboho Seember Mary, Desk Officer, Benue State Ministry of Water Resources and Environment said the meeting enlighten them of their roles at the sub-national level towards meeting the target of the NDCs.
Earlier in his keynote address, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Engr. Hassan Musa noted that the implementation of revised NDC would be heavily dependent on cross sectoral engagements and international support in terms of finance and technical backing.
“It is therefore, the role of the government to educate the populace on the dynamics of international and national climate governance of the NDC implementation. To achieve the climate goals for Nigeria there is need for strong buying-in of the sub-national government and present project idea notes that can attract support from donor partners.
In her welcome address, Dr. Iniobong Abiola-Awe, Director, DCC, said the meeting is to discuss and dialogue on implementation process of the updated NDC, the processes and outcomes of COP26 for Nigeria and the steps that need to be taken to translate the major outcomes of COP26 to national commitments.She said “Several engagements with relevant stakeholders have been ongoing at the National level for effective implementation of the NDC. One of the objectives of this workshop is obtaining inputs/project idea notes/activities from the states to be incorporated in the implementation plan which the states would benefit from when executed.
The communique issued at the end of the meeting recommended that Stakeholders should embrace continues awareness programs on Climate change issues targeting the grass root; Synergize with Public Private Partners to access climate finance for bankable projects implementation; Engaging and sensitizing policy markers on the reality on the impacts of climate change
Other recommendations are that mechanism put in place to track achievements in NDC implementation both in Federal and in the State; Collaboration of Ministries that have cross related issues on climate change; Formation of State technical Sub-committee across different Ministries in the state.
Submission of project Idea note to the Department of Climate Change towards the development of project; Mainstreaming initiatives and action into state annual budget; State specific adaptative measures base on state vulnerability and climate related issues and climate challenges; Continuous engagement with DCC going forward.
The meeting was attended Representatives from the States Ministries of environment and water resources in the North central Zone, NGO, Media, Resource person, Academia, high Level representative, Director DCC and the Honourable Commissioner of Environment, Nassarawa State Honourable Yakubu Kwanto.
