The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), alongside other international development partners and the Federal Government, has committed more than N25 billion to a range of environmental and climate-related projects aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s resilience to climate change and accelerating its transition to a greener economy.
The funding, drawn from various international climate and environmental programmes, is being channelled into projects focused on climate adaptation, emissions reduction, biodiversity conservation, pollution control, coastal protection, and sustainable development across the country.
Data obtained from the Nigeria Development Cooperation Dashboard and implementation reports from the UNDP indicate that several major environmental initiatives are currently underway under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Environment.
One of the flagship programmes is the Biennial Transparency and Fourth National Communication Project under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The initiative has secured approximately $2.27 million (about N3.09 billion) to strengthen Nigeria’s climate reporting systems and improve the monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions.
Of the total allocation, about $1.58 million (N2.15 billion) had already been disbursed by mid-2026. The project, coordinated by the National Council on Climate Change, is expected to enhance transparency and ensure Nigeria meets its international climate reporting obligations.
Beyond climate reporting, Nigeria is pursuing an ambitious environmental transformation programme valued at nearly $100 million (approximately N136 billion) to support ecosystem conservation and advance its target of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2060.
The programme, titled “Accelerating Nature and Climate Action to Advance Nigeria’s Net Zero and 30×30 Targets,” has received a $7.13 million grant (about N9.7 billion) from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund.
The grant has attracted an additional $93.85 million (about N127.6 billion) in co-financing commitments from development partners and stakeholders.
The initiative is expected to drive significant emissions reductions across the energy and agriculture sectors, which together account for nearly 85 per cent of Nigeria’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Project records show that a preparatory grant worth $159,438 (about N217 million) was fully disbursed earlier this year to complete legal, technical and institutional preparations ahead of full implementation.
Nigeria’s climate resilience efforts are also receiving support through the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) Programme, which has almost fully utilised its $3.03 million allocation (about N4.12 billion).
According to project records, approximately $3.028 million has already been released to strengthen climate adaptation strategies, resilience frameworks, and implementation mechanisms aligned with Nigeria’s commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement.
Another major intervention focuses on the environmentally sound management and disposal of Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), highly toxic industrial chemicals commonly found in obsolete electrical equipment.
The project has disbursed approximately $7.09 million (about N9.64 billion) to tackle the environmental and public health risks posed by these hazardous substances.
Nigeria is also making significant strides in its efforts to eliminate ozone-depleting substances through the second phase of its Hydrochlorofluorocarbon (HCFC) Phase-Out Management Plan.
The programme, implemented by the National Ozone Office and the Department of Pollution Control, has secured funding of $4.13 million (N5.62 billion) for implementation activities, alongside an institutional support package valued at $1.55 million (N2.11 billion).
Records indicate that Tranche III funding worth $2.28 million (approximately N3.11 billion) has already been released to support Nigeria’s foam manufacturing and refrigeration industries.
Implementation reports show that both large manufacturers and small-to-medium-scale enterprises in the country’s foam production sector have successfully eliminated the use of ozone-depleting HCFCs, marking a significant milestone in Nigeria’s compliance with global environmental agreements.
