The Federal Government on Monday launched the Net-Zero Nature-Positive Project (NZNP) to tackle climate change challenges and achieve Nigeria’s net-zero emissions target by 2060.
Speaking at the NZNP inception workshop in Abuja, Director of Forestry at the Federal Ministry of Environment, Halima Bawa-Bwari, described the project as a milestone in Nigeria’s collective journey toward a climate-resilient, biodiversity-rich, and inclusive future.
She said the initiative aims to strengthen institutional coordination, enhance biodiversity, restore degraded ecosystems, and attract investments that promote nature-positive and low-carbon development.
“The NZNP project offers a unique opportunity to address these challenges in an integrated and transformative way,” Bawa-Bwari said. “Nigeria’s commitment to a net-zero, nature-positive future is not just aspirational—it is backed by action through our updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which reflect more ambitious climate targets and investments in nature-based solutions.”
She added that Nigeria’s climate efforts must go beyond emissions reduction, describing the NZNP as a powerful platform to accelerate progress toward sustainability.
Ms. Elsie Attafuah, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nigeria, said the NZNP reflects Nigeria’s bold commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.
Represented by Mr. Blessed Chirimuta, UNDP’s Deputy Resident Representative, Attafuah said the project would help conserve 30 percent of Nigeria’s land and marine ecosystems by 2030, while ensuring that the Niger Delta becomes a model for environmental accountability and green investment.
“Climate change is already disrupting lives and livelihoods. Biodiversity loss is accelerating, and vulnerable communities are bearing the heaviest burdens. The urgency is real,” she said.
“Through this project, we will work with the governments of Rivers and Bayelsa States to integrate net-zero and nature-positive strategies into development planning, and to empower women and youth as leaders in the green transition.”
She reaffirmed the UNDP’s commitment to making the NZNP a model for Africa and the world, working from the creeks of Bayelsa to the cities of Rivers and beyond.
The NZNP Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), is being implemented in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the UNDP.
In her welcome address, Mrs. Nkechi Aneke-Agnes, Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Ministry of Environment, explained that the NZNP Accelerator is one of 11 integrated programmes under the GEF-8 cycle.
“This initiative aims to fast-track the adoption of nature-positive and net-zero pathways by investing in nature and new technologies,” she said.
“It marks a significant step in Nigeria’s transition toward a sustainable future through ecosystem restoration, access to clean energy, and support for sustainable investments.”
She noted that the project would also help Nigeria achieve its Nature Positive Commitment by 2030 and its Net-Zero emissions target by 2060.
Similarly, Dr. Nkemdirim Odoya, Director of Forestry at the Rivers State Ministry of Environment, pledged the state’s support for the UNDP, noting that “Rivers State houses a unique species of elephant found nowhere else in Nigeria, making this project highly relevant.”
Also speaking, Mrs. Susan Uyadongha, Director of Forestry at the Bayelsa State Ministry of Environment, said the initiative aligns with Bayelsa’s commitment to environmental sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and climate resilience.
