Nigeria’s southern coastline is facing a severe erosion crisis, losing 30 to 40 meters of land annually due to the escalating impacts of climate change. This alarming rate of coastal erosion, coupled with the northward advance of desertification at 0.6 kilometers per year, poses a significant threat to the nation’s food security and overall environmental stability. Uche Nnaji, Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, has emphasized the urgent need for intervention, highlighting the devastating consequences of these environmental changes. He underscored the critical importance of integrating scientific advancements, technological innovation, and sustainable financial mechanisms to combat these pressing challenges and secure Nigeria’s future food security. The minister’s pronouncements underscore the gravity of the situation and call for both national and international collaborative efforts to address this looming environmental catastrophe.
In response to these environmental threats, Nigeria has initiated the Nigeria Living Lands Initiative, a comprehensive program encompassing various climate-smart strategies aimed at mitigating environmental degradation and enhancing agricultural productivity. One key component of this initiative is the integrated climate-smart agriculture and land restoration project, targeting the rehabilitation of 50,000 hectares of degraded land. This project not only addresses land degradation but also aims to bolster farmer incomes, generating an estimated $2,000 to $3,000 per hectare. To further enhance food security and ensure year-round crop production despite the unpredictable weather patterns brought about by climate change, climate-smart greenhouses are being established. These greenhouses provide controlled environments for crop cultivation, shielding them from the vagaries of climate change and promoting consistent agricultural output.
Beyond agricultural interventions, the initiative also focuses on sustainable development and alternative energy solutions. The government is actively promoting bamboo value chain development, recognizing the versatility and eco-friendly nature of bamboo as a building material and a source of sustainable livelihoods. This initiative supports eco-friendly construction practices and provides alternative income streams for local communities. Furthermore, the methanol fuel production and clean cooking program aims to reduce the reliance on biomass and fossil fuels, which currently constitute a major energy source for 90 percent of Nigerian households. This program promotes cleaner energy alternatives, mitigating the environmental and health impacts associated with traditional fuel sources.
Completing the suite of initiatives under the Nigeria Living Lands program is the development of an integrated biodigester network. This innovative approach transforms organic waste into valuable resources: biogas, a clean energy source, and fertilizers, which enrich agricultural lands. This waste-to-resource strategy not only reduces greenhouse gas emissions by an estimated 300,000 tonnes annually but also provides clean energy to over 10,000 households, promoting both environmental sustainability and improved living standards. The multifaceted nature of the Nigeria Living Lands Initiative demonstrates a holistic approach to tackling the interconnected challenges of climate change, environmental degradation, and food security.
The success of these ambitious initiatives hinges on securing adequate climate finance. Minister Nnaji emphasized the crucial role of climate finance in driving these projects, outlining Nigeria’s strategy to access funding through mechanisms such as green bonds and climate resilience funds. Building on previous successful green bond issuances in 2017 and 2019, Nigeria is committed to leveraging these financial instruments to attract investment in climate-resilient projects. Furthermore, the government is actively encouraging public-private partnerships to mobilize private sector investment in key areas such as agricultural value chains, energy-efficient food processing, and sustainable infrastructure development. These partnerships are crucial for scaling up investments and accelerating the implementation of climate-smart solutions.
Nigeria is also strategically leveraging the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub to unlock global climate finance for resilience projects, recognizing the importance of international collaboration in addressing climate change. Minister Nnaji stressed the importance of streamlining access to international funding for climate adaptation projects, urging Commonwealth nations to collaborate and simplify the process. He emphasized that climate finance serves as a catalyst for sustainable land use and national development, highlighting the interconnectedness of these issues. Under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is aligning its policies with global sustainability goals, demonstrating its commitment to international cooperation and sustainable development.
Executive Order No. 5, recently issued, provides a national framework for accelerating technology adoption in crucial sectors like agriculture, energy, and industry, specifically for climate adaptation. This order strengthens inter-ministerial collaboration to improve resource mobilization and policy execution, while prioritizing sustainable food systems in national planning and international partnerships. Minister Nnaji further advocated for stronger collaboration within the Commonwealth, proposing the establishment of a Commonwealth Centre for Climate-Smart Agriculture, simplified access to climate finance, and increased empowerment of youth and women in agritech innovation. He underscored the shared responsibility of Commonwealth nations to address the challenges of climate change and emphasized the need for collective action. As the Commonwealth shapes the future of sustainable development, Nigeria is positioning itself as a leader in climate innovation, demonstrating a commitment to building a climate-resilient, food-secure, and prosperous future for all.
