By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
Two civil society organisations, Connected Development (CODE) and Oxfam have raised alarm that widening gap between planning and on-the-ground support is affecting climate change mitigation across communities in the country.
This is contained in a report titled, the State of Climate Finance in Nigeria, presented at a media discourse ahead of COP30, in Abuja on Tuesday.
The report stated that adaptation and mitigation across communities is being hindered due to inability to mobilise sufficient funding.
The report said only a fraction of the required annual need of over $10 billion to address climate vulnerabilities, is being disbursed, leaving farmers, fisherfolk, and urban residents exposed to floods, droughts, and erosion.
It showed that over seven years, just $4.93 billion was released for more than 200 climate-related projects, widening the gap between planning and on-the-ground support.
Agriculture, renewable energy, and water resources received the bulk of funds, yet communities struggle to access them due to weak local governance, limited capacity, and bureaucratic bottlenecks.
Rising national debt and underutilised grants exacerbate the situation, as funds that could support climate-resilient livelihoods remain largely untapped.
Head of Natural Resource and Climate Governance at BudgIT Foundation, Enebi Opaoluwa in his paper stressed the need for greater transparency, citizen participation, and climate-responsive public budgeting.
“Communities are already suffering from floods and unpredictable weather. Without accountable use of funds, vulnerabilities will only deepen,” Opaoluwa said.
Abuja Bureau Chief of EnviroNews, Mike Etta Bisong added that environmental reporting and understanding global climate processes are crucial for holding governments accountable. “Covering climate finance is not just about numbers—it’s about ensuring that promises translate into real impact for communities on the frontline of climate change,” he said.
Civil society groups are calling for green budgeting reforms, urging ministries to integrate climate targets into annual fiscal planning to ensure resources reach local communities effectively.
The Nigerian Climate Change Council (NCCC) was identified as a key actor in coordinating domestic climate funding and supporting sub-national governments in implementing adaptation and mitigation projects.
