The United Kingdom Partnering for Accelerated Climate Transitions (UK PACT) has launched a new project to strengthen private sector capacity for climate and clean-air action in Nigeria.
The initiative, titled “Transport Climate Action: Boosting Business Leadership for Clean Air in Nigeria,” was unveiled on Tuesday in Abuja.
The project aims to reduce carbon emissions and accelerate low-carbon, inclusive economic growth, with a strong focus on the transport sector. It brought together businesses, policymakers, regulators, financial institutions and civil society organizations.
Dr Emmanuel Onwodi, Project Lead at Escher Silverman Global Air Pollution, said the intervention was driven by the rising burden of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, describing it as one of Nigeria’s most urgent economic and public health concerns.
He noted that more than 200,000 premature deaths occur annually due to poor air quality, adding that businesses are both victims and contributors to the crisis.
“The transport sector accounts for over 15 per cent of Nigeria’s greenhouse gas emissions but is ill-equipped to address the issues, including limited technical expertise, unclear regulatory pathways and restricted access to finance for clean technologies,” he said.
Gari Haq, Consortium Lead at the University of York, said the UK PACT project would address existing gaps by equipping private enterprises with training, tools and policy support for low-carbon operations.
He described UK PACT as a flagship UK government programme supporting partner countries to cut carbon emissions and drive inclusive growth.
Haq said the 15-month project would help businesses access climate finance and participate in voluntary carbon markets.
“It will support the development of finance-ready Climate and Clean Air Action Plans, promote emissions-reducing practices aligned with Nigeria’s NDC 3.0 targets, and build understanding of regulatory frameworks such as the National Climate Change Fund.
“The project will also strengthen collaboration between private companies, regulators and financial institutions, and integrate Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion considerations into climate action,” he added.
NAN reports that the initiative is being implemented in partnership with Consulting Engineers Group (CEG) and the SLOCAT Partnership on Sustainable, Low-Carbon Transport, alongside Nigerian partners Escher Silverman Global (ESG) and AP3 Advisory.
Mr Ibrahim Shelleng, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Finance and Stakeholder Engagement, said climate change had become a lived reality across Nigerian cities, farms, industries and communities.
He cited extreme heat in the north, flooding in coastal states and worsening air quality in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and Kano.
Shelleng said the challenges also present an opportunity to harness the creativity and dynamism of the private sector.
“Our industries, SMEs, financiers, manufacturers, agribusinesses, logistics companies and technology innovators have a central role in driving the transition to a cleaner, healthier and more resilient economy,” he said.
He added that the stakeholder gathering demonstrated that Nigeria’s climate and clean-air ambitions cannot be achieved without an empowered and committed private sector.
“This platform deepens understanding, builds capacity, shares practical tools and strengthens collaboration.
“It allows us to explore priority areas such as integrating climate-smart business practices, adopting clean-energy technologies and accessing climate finance, including carbon markets, green bonds and blended-finance instruments,” he said.
Shelleng said aligning private sector strategies with Nigeria’s national climate commitments would help reduce emissions, improve air quality and ensure competitiveness in a global economy increasingly driven by sustainability.
