Nigeria Unveils Committee to Enhance Climate Data Transparency
The Federal Government has inaugurated a Project Steering Committee (PSC) aimed at advancing the Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT), which is supported by the Global Environment Facility. This initiative seeks to improve Nigeria’s climate data systems and enhance environmental accountability.
Coordinated by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, the project focuses on strengthening the capacity of countries to track, report, and verify their climate action efforts, particularly as they relate to obligations under the Paris Agreement.
During the inauguration ceremony in Abuja, Halimah Bawa Bwari, the Ministry’s Director of Forests, emphasized that the PSC serves as a strategic framework for improving coordination and monitoring of the initiative. Speaking through Deputy Commissioner Aiuyo Christopher, she noted that the committee would provide necessary policy direction, ensure institutional alignment, and tackle implementation challenges.
Bawa Bwari explained that the CBIT program was established under the Global Environment Facility in response to the outcomes of COP21 in Paris and aims to help nations meet enhanced transparency requirements of the Paris Agreement. The initiative is crucial for Nigeria as it seeks to improve the generation, management, and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions data across critical sectors of the economy.
The project is set to strengthen institutional frameworks for data management, enhance technical abilities among stakeholders, and develop digital platforms to ensure that climate data is both transparent and accessible. If successful, it will significantly bolster Nigeria’s capacity to fulfill international reporting obligations with greater accuracy and reliability.
The importance of cross-sector collaboration was also underscored, with emphasis on cooperation among agriculture, forestry and other land use (AFOLU), energy, transportation, industrial processes, and waste management. Bawa Bwari highlighted that the committee’s role is vital to achieving the project’s objectives and effectively combating climate change, urging members to exhibit commitment and strategic leadership.
Babagana Bukar, the Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Ministry and Head of GEF Operations in Nigeria, echoed these sentiments. He remarked that the committee would be instrumental in guiding the implementation process, resolving potential bottlenecks, and aligning projects with national priorities such as the Energy Transition Plan and Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
Bukar stressed that transparency is fundamental to credible climate action, serving not only as a procedural requirement but also as a vital component of effective environmental governance. On behalf of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of Nigeria and ECOWAS, representative Hussein Ghadane reiterated the organization’s commitment to aiding countries in fulfilling their transparency requirements through improved data systems and robust partnerships.
The CBIT initiative is tailored to help nations strengthen their capacities for monitoring emissions and tracking climate action across essential sectors. Joseph Onoja, Executive Director of the Nigeria Conservation Foundation, also highlighted the necessity for collaboration to achieve sustainable outcomes. He noted that a unified approach would prevent duplication of efforts while promoting synergies for greater impact.
Anne Umas, head of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), added that the initiative seeks to establish a solid data-driven foundation for climate governance, facilitating intelligent decision-making and ensuring long-term sustainability. The launch event was organized by the Forest Service of the Federal Ministry of Environment in partnership with the FAO and the Nigeria Conservation Foundation.
With the establishment of the PSC, Nigeria is taking crucial steps towards reinforcing its climate transparency framework, enhancing data integrity, and boosting its reputation on the global climate stage.
