Environment
Climate Change: FG Hails UNDP Over Support On Investment, Financial Flow
The Federal Government has hailed the United Nations Development Programme’s commitment to support the country in developing Investment and Financial Flow (I&FF) to effectively address climate change adaptation and mitigation.
Dr Mohammad Abubakar, Minister of Environment, disclosed this in Abuja, while inaugurating Nigeria’s Long-term low emission Vision to 2050, Investment/Financial Flow Assessment Reports and Pledging Conference to support Youth Innovation for Climate Actions in Nigeria.
Abubakar said that the I&FF was for the purpose of conducting an assessment to determine the costs of climate change measures and potential sources of investment funds.
He said that the I&FF document would serve as a guidance note for government agencies as well as private sectors undertaking climate actions.
The minister added that by using the I&FF methodology, countries could determine how to organise investment and financial flows efficiently.
According to him, the UNDP is supporting the ministry to developing the I&FF, towards achieving the global commitment in order to properly map resource mobilisation.
“The I&FF is also to aid decision makers to recognise the need for solid information on current and future climate change-related investments and financial flows, as well as their timing, sources and investment entities.
“The purpose of this meeting is to give an update on the progress we have made as a country in our global commitments towards reducing Green House Gas emissions (GHG) under the UNF CCC process.
“We have submitted the 2021 revised Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), under the Paris Climate Agreement, to which most of your MDAs made tangible contributions.
“This new submission has recommitted Nigeria to reducing emission by 20 per cent unconditionally but with a slight increase from 45 per cent to 47 per cent conditionally by the year 2030,’’ he said.
The minister said that through the NDC Partnership Climate Action Enhancement Package, the 2050 Pathways supported the ministry to develop its first Nigeria Long–Term Vision 2050.
“The support is as an initial and first useful step towards designing Long Term–Low Emission Development Strategies (LT-LEDS).
“The support provides Nigeria the forum to discuss the opportunities and challenges that may arise in terms of a cleaner, more dynamic, and more sustainable growth model.
”The process also provides the options for the country to implement a less carbon-intensive model of economic development in the face of decreasing global reliance on fossil fuel energy for development practices.
”It is hoped that this vision will promote sustainable development and guarantee a climate proofed economy through multi-stakeholders’ engagement across multiple sectors,’’ he said.
Abubakar said that Nigeria was committed to empowering citizens by engaging in climate actions, through youth engagements, education, training, public awareness, public participation, public access to information and international cooperation.
He commended the youth for their tremendous input into promoting climate actions, adding that the efforts must be encourage at all levels across the country.
“As we launch the National Youth Climate Innovation Hub Reports, pledges and support are expected in all forms to optimise the energy and creativity of the Nigerian youth and make the innovative hub fully functional.’’
Chief Sharon Ikeazor, Minister of State for Environment, said that Nigeria was committed to fulfilling its pledge to combat climate change along with the international community through the Paris Climate Agreement.
Ikeazor said that undertaking such determination would require significant investment from both domestic and international sources with end-to-end contributions from private and public sectors.
“To appreciate the size of the investment that will be required for climate change mitigation and adaptation measure.
“Nigeria, through support from the UNDP, hired experts which included Climate Change Scientists, Data and Statistical Analysts, Economists and Financial.
“The team was tasked with the assessment and analysis of the expected Investment and Financial Flows (I&FF) to achieve the emission reduction targets.
“According to assessment which provides an estimation of costs on capital investment, operations, maintenance, and other financial requirements towards achieving this task albeit starting from a base year of 2015 to 2030 which put the figure required to be 547,035 billion dollars.
She said that the amount was needed to implement priority actions such as ending gas flaring by capturing and commercialising flared gas by 2030.
She said it was also for switching the use of power generators running on premium motor spirit and automotive gas oil towards Liquefied Petroleum Gas/Compressed Natural Gas.
The minister said that it was also for increasing renewable energy generation up to 13GW for grid, mini-grid and off grid connections by 2030.
She said that one of the goals of the government was to incentivise climate actions, creating economic value from the adaptation and mitigation actions that would be undertaken by the public and private sectors.
The Federal Government has signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to remove tariffs on selected products.
Rep. Sam Onuigbo a member of the Governing Board of the North-East Development Commission, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday.
Onuigbo said that the agreement signed in Abu Dhabi from Jan. 11 to 15, marked a major breakthrough for Nigeria-UAE economic relations.
NAN reports that Onuigbo, a member of the House of Representatives of Nigeria who represented Ikwuano/Umuahia North and South Federal Constituency, served as Chairman, Committee of Climate Change during the 8th Assembly.
“Under the CEPA signed in January 2026, UAE will eliminate tariffs on 7,315 Nigerian products. This includes immediate duty-free access for 2,805 products (38.3 per cent).
” The rest will phase out over three to five years, covering agricultural and industrial goods.
“Similarly, under the Nigeria/UAE CEPA also signed in January 2026, Nigeria has eliminated tariffs on 6,243 products imported from UAE. That agreement creates these wonderful opportunities between Nigerians and the Emirates,” he said.
Onuigbo said that the agreement was massive as it would facilitate an environment for business owners in Nigeria.
He said the pact would enable verified Nigerian business owners to establish offices in UAE, operate for up to three months and return home with expanded commercial networks.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for the agreement, saying it aimed at repositioning the country while also creating an enabling environment for employment opportunities.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s readiness for business, noting that the country also unveiled its carbon market framework policy to attract climate-focused investments
”Nigeria is a nation of nearly 250 million people and has had, over the years, the challenge of enough energy or power to be able to attain its economic and industrialisation targets.
“And because of that, Nigeria has been engaging in different activities, for instance, the Energy Transition Plan, enactment of the Climate Change Act, and the Electricity Act which the President signed barely eight days after he assumed office in 2023.
“This shows the importance of addressing the energy gap having enough energy. Electricity is a fundamental point to developing industrially which Nigeria deems necessary,” he said.
Onuigbo lauded Nigeria’s participation at the Abu Dhabi summit saying that the summit would strengthen global economic opportunity for people.
He added that the President’s collaboration would address the challenges and devastating effects of climate change as well as boost economic growth in 2026
Environment
HYPREP Completes Phase One Mangrove Restoration In Ogoniland, Warns Against Re-Pollution
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project, HYPREP, says it has achieved a major environmental milestone in Ogoniland with the full completion of Phase One of its mangrove restoration programme, even as it warned that renewed pollution could erase years of painstaking cleanup.
“We have completed Phase One planting and restoration at 100 per cent. We are now in the monitoring stage, with some sites already observed for up to nine months,” he said.
Beyond mangroves, Aguiyi reported significant progress in soil and groundwater remediation, describing the last quarter as one of HYPREP’s most productive periods since the Ogoni cleanup commenced.
He disclosed that shoreline cleanup has reached about 77 per cent completion, while access to safe drinking water has expanded across Ogoni communities.
“We have restored 100 per cent potable water supply to Ebubu, and reconstruction work has commenced at the Gwara Waterfall,” Aguiyi stated.
On infrastructure, he said key equipment for the long-awaited Ogoni Power Project has been procured and secured at the Wiyaakara substation, signalling movement toward energy support for the restoration effort.
Despite the progress, Aguiyi warned that re-pollution remains the single greatest threat to the success of the Ogoni cleanup.
“Our major concern is waking up one day to find areas cleaned with Ogoni people’s resources re-polluted by activities beyond our control,” he said, stressing that environmental recovery must be protected as much as it is delivered.
He attributed the sharp decline in illegal artisanal refining in Ogoniland over the past two to three years to sustained community engagement and alternative livelihood programmes, which he said have reduced economic dependence on destructive practices.
“We have not recorded incidents of artisanal refining in Ogoniland in the last two to three years, and that is the result of consistent sensitisation and viable livelihood options,” he added.
Aguiyi reaffirmed HYPREP’s willingness to collaborate with companies and partners operating in Ogoniland, noting that initiatives aligned with the project’s environmental and social objectives would be reviewed and adopted where appropriate.
He also said recommendations from recent independent and internal reports are already being implemented, underscoring HYPREP’s commitment to transparency, accountability, environmental recovery, and improved livelihoods for Ogoni communities.
Environment
Over Six Million Benue Residents Exposed To Neglected Tropical Diseases – State Government
The Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr. Paul Ogwuche, disclosed this during a press conference to mark the 2026 World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day, organised in collaboration with Sightsavers and themed “Unite, Act, Eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs).”
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Dr. Beatrice Tsavmbu, the commissioner announced the successful elimination of blinding trachoma in Gwer East, Gwer West and Ukum Local Government Areas, attributing the feat to years of targeted interventions, strong community participation and sustained implementation of the state’s NTDs Control and Elimination Programme.
“I am proud to announce the elimination of blinding trachoma in three of our most affected areas—Gwer East, Gwer West and Ukum. No longer will these communities face the blindness that trachoma has long inflicted,” she said.
However, Dr. Tsavmbu noted that Benue State remains highly endemic for several NTDs, with all 23 local government areas experiencing overlapping disease burdens. She listed the diseases to include onchocerciasis (river blindness), lymphatic filariasis (elephantiasis), schistosomiasis (bilharziasis), soil-transmitted helminth infections (intestinal worms), leprosy, buruli ulcer and snakebite envenoming.
“These conditions collectively put over six million people in Benue State at risk,” she stated.
She revealed that the state had treated an average of more than five million people over the past five years through preventive chemotherapy, morbidity management and disability prevention, supported by Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) initiatives and integrated vector control.
Dr. Tsavmbu also announced a major breakthrough in the fight against river blindness, noting that onchocerciasis endemicity in the state had been reclassified from ongoing transmission to suspected interruption of transmission.
On lymphatic filariasis, she disclosed that 1,064 hydrocele cases had been successfully managed through free surgeries, while 442 lymphoedema patients received free management kits to prevent disease progression. She added that 44 trachoma trichiasis cases were also treated through free surgical interventions.
According to her, Ukum, Logo and Konshisha LGAs have passed Transmission Assessment Survey 1 for lymphatic filariasis, allowing for the cessation of mass drug administration in those areas. In addition, seven other LGAs—Ado, Apa, Kwande, Obi, Ohimini, Oju and Tarka—successfully passed epidemiological monitoring surveys in 2025.
She attributed the progress recorded to strong inter-sectoral collaboration involving agencies such as the Benue Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (BERWASSA), the State Universal Basic Education Board, the Ministry of Education, civil society organisations and security agencies. She also cited the inauguration of the State NTDs Advisory Committee and improvements in supply chain and logistics management systems.
In a related remark, Prof. Edward Omudu of the Department of Biological Sciences, Moses Orshio Adasu University, Makurdi, revealed that the National Universities Commission had recently approved Nigerian universities to offer degree programmes in Water, Sanitation and Health, describing the move as a critical step toward strengthening disease prevention and public health capacity in the country.