The federal government has revealed intentions to leverage the $4 billion Mangrove Breakthrough Initiative funds, which was proposed during the COP 27 Climate Change conference, with a focus on mangrove protection, restoration, and afforestation.
This was revealed at a media-interactive meeting in Abuja by Mrs. Chinwe Oluwatoyin Adindu, Executive Secretary of the National Council on Climate Change Secretariat (NCCCS).
In order to receive the funding, she said, NCCCS was creating a National Roadmap on Mangrove Conservation, Afforestation, and Protection.
The roadmap is a strategic document that any financier or investor can readily utilize to understand Nigeria’s policy, vision, and intentions on mangroves, as well as the strategic investment timeframe, she said, adding that the country was focusing on grant options rather than loan opportunities.
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.
In order to combat climate change in Nigeria and make sure that the nation stays below the 1.5 degree Celsius target set by the Paris Agreement, he said, nature-based climate solutions are the main focus.
According to Adindu, mangroves improve livelihoods and coastal resiliency, which raises people’s quality of life both domestically and internationally.
Adindu noted the secretariat’s intentions for the year and stated that in order to assist in the creation of the national roadmap for mangrove conservation and protection, they would begin with technical visits to mangrove areas spread across the nine Niger Delta states.
As the first state to enact the Climate Change Act and designate a Commissioner for Green Economy, she said they intended to have a town hall meeting in Cross River.
According to her, this meeting will take place on February 4th in collaboration with foreign partners who will be invited to talk about the prospects and difficulties of funding mangrove conservation and protection in the nation.
“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,” she said.
In order to guarantee a nationally recognized NDC, the Executive Secretary also revealed the council’s plans to review the NDC and invited the focal ministries to propose members for the review committee.
She also mentioned that the review group would include members from the media.
On tree planting, she observed the fast decline in forest cover, stating the secretariat will focus more on tree planting.