FG eyes $4b mangrove conservation finance

The federal government has revealed plans to benefit from the $4 billion Mangrove Breakthrough Initiative finance launched during the COP 27 Climate Change conference, focusing on mangrove conservation, afforestation, and protection.

The Executive Secretary of the National Council on Climate Change Secretariat (NCCCS), Mrs. Chinwe Oluwatoyin Adindu, disclosed this during a media interactive meeting in Abuja. She said NCCCS was developing a National Roadmap on Mangrove Conservation, Afforestation, and Protection to be able to benefit from the finance.

According to her, the country was targeting opportunities for grants rather than loans, saying the roadmap is a strategic document that any financier or investor can easily use to understand Nigeria’s policy, vision, and plans on mangroves, as well as the strategic investment timeline.

She said, “What we are looking at is how Nigeria can warehouse grants, and it’s important that Nigeria has a strategy document. The roadmap is a strategy document that any financier or investor can easily know Nigeria’s policy, vision, and plans on mangroves, as well as the strategic investment timeline.”

Adindu said that the theme for 2025 is “Simplified Climate-Based Nature Solutions,” saying the theme aligns with the mangrove initiative launched during COP 27.

She stated that nature-based climate solutions are the major focus for addressing climate change in Nigeria and ensuring that the country stays within the 1.5 degrees Celsius benchmark in line with the Paris Agreement.

She said that mangroves are important to the country and the world as they enhance livelihoods and coastal resilience, improving overall quality of life.

Noting the plans of the secretariat for the year, Adindu said they would start with technical visits to mangrove sites across the nine states in the Niger Delta to help in the development of the roadmap for mangrove conservation and protection in the country.

She said they planned to host a town hall meeting in Cross River, being the first state to adopt the Climate Change Act as law and appoint a Commissioner for Green Economy.

This meeting, according to her, will be held on the 4th of February in partnership with international partners who would be brought in to discuss the challenges and opportunities of financing mangrove conservation and protection in the country.

She said, “The mangrove site visit and the town hall meeting are part of our preparatory efforts toward our event in March. We are collaborating with the Nigeria Art Gallery to have an exhibition on mangroves, spotlighting their importance. From the 4th to the 6th of March, we will be in Lagos for a meeting on the intersection between mangroves and climate change, and we will also hold an art exhibition.”

The Executive Secretary also disclosed plans by the council to review the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and urged the focal ministries to nominate members for the review committee to ensure a nationally accepted NDC.

She added that the media would also be part of the review committee.

On tree planting, she noted the accelerated reduction in forest cover, saying the secretariat will focus more on tree planting.