By Chuks Oyema-Aziken (Baku, Azerbaijan)
The Niger State Government has entered into Memorandum of Understanding with Future Camp, a German firm to actively participate in the carbon credit market.
The signing of the MoU at the Nigerian pavilion at the ongoing COP29 in Baku Azerbaijan was witnessed by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal.
The Minister commended the Niger State Government for its leading role in developing a green economy.
He said “They are taking the lead in the area of agriculture. The only state that Mr. President visited to go and see what they are doing in the area of agriculture. So, I’m not surprised that they have moved this far. And I want to say that this is an area that we are still lagging behind Nigeria.
“So, I’m very happy that a sub-national like Nigeria State is also tuning into this. The only advice I want to give is that whatever you are going to do, you must keep in the national framework. Because it’s important for you to always take guidance from the national framework, which is important.
Secretary to the Niger State Government, Abubakar Usman said the MoU reflects the efforts to key into the green economy process.
“We are setting up a framework, institutional framework to be aided and guided by a consultant order to be able to actively participate in the carbon market credits.
He commended the Niger State Governor, Alhaji Mohammed Umar Bago for his massive efforts at turning the state around within a short time.
“Niger State is the first sub-national to have keyed into this green initiative early. And to that, this signing today marks a milestone in our way of moving because we feel we need the right consultancy, we need the right guidance from the experts that have the knowledge for us to be able to play in this green initiative.
“They are bringing in the expertise, they are bringing in the advice, they are guiding us in the area of carbon credits and that is very crucial for us because Nigeria State is endowed with green assets, we have invested so much in green assets and so we need the guides to be able to benefit from those assets.
Sebastian Lenz, a hydrogeologist said Future Camp has a history of over 20 years involved in government and corporate strategic operational consulting.
“We began 20 years ago with the establishment of carbon projects in the voluntary carbon market under the CDM framework and the JI framework.
“These market-based regulatory were the basis for our success. That’s also why Future Camp in Germany now is recognised as a well-known and very experienced consultant, understanding the needs of the companies, of industry, but also of the regional governments.
Speaking on the initiative, National Consultant to Nigeria State, Obi Ugochukwu said Governor Bago set out a vision by setting up the committee for green economy and he has sustained along that path.
