Nigeria’s Minister of Innovation, Science, and Technology, Chief Uche Nnaji, has called on Commonwealth nations to streamline access to international climate finance to support adaptation projects in developing countries.
This was disclosed in a statement on Thursday by the Director Media and Corporate Communications at National Space Research and Development Agency, Dr Felix Ale.
Speaking at the Commonwealth Roundtable on Climate Finance and Food Security in London, Nnaji highlighted Nigeria’s bold initiatives to integrate innovation, climate finance, and sustainable agriculture in response to climate change, land degradation, and food insecurity.
“Climate finance is a catalyst for sustainable land use and national development,” Nnaji emphasized, urging Commonwealth nations to simplify the bureaucratic processes that hinder access to international funding.
With desertification advancing at 0.6 kilometers per year in northern Nigeria and coastal erosion consuming 30-40 meters of land annually in the south, the stakes have never been higher.
Flooding, deforestation, and declining agricultural yields further exacerbate food insecurity in Africa’s most populous nation.
“We cannot afford to let climate inaction dictate our food security future,” Nnaji stated, calling for a global commitment to integrating science, technology, and sustainable finance in tackling these challenges.
Under the Nigeria Living Lands Initiative, the country is implementing cutting-edge solutions designed to mitigate environmental degradation while boosting agricultural productivity.
Some of these initiatives include the restoration of 50,000 hectares of degraded land, which is expected to generate between $2,000 and $3,000 per hectare in farmer income.
Climate-smart greenhouses are being established to enable year-round crop production, ensuring food stability despite changing weather conditions. The government is also promoting a bamboo value chain development program to encourage eco-friendly construction, carbon sequestration, and sustainable livelihoods.
Other initiatives include expanding Low Pressure Compressed Natural Gas adoption through the methanol fuel production and clean cooking initiative to reduce biomass and fossil fuel dependency, which affects 90 percent of Nigerian households.
The integrated biodigester network is also transforming organic waste into biogas and fertilizers, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 300,000 tons annually while providing clean energy to over 10,000 households.
Nigeria is leveraging innovative financing mechanisms to scale these projects. Green bonds and climate resilience funds are being expanded, building on Nigeria’s previous Green Bond issuances in 2017 and 2019, which were aimed at funding climate-smart initiatives.
The government is also encouraging public-private partnerships to drive investments in agricultural value chains, energy-efficient food processing, and sustainable infrastructure.
Additionally, Nigeria is utilizing the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub to unlock global climate finance for climate resilience projects.
Nnaji stressed that the complexity of current climate finance frameworks often prevents developing nations from accessing critical funds.
“We must ensure that climate finance is accessible and equitable for all Commonwealth nations,” he said.
Under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria is aligning its policies with global sustainability goals.
Executive Order No. 5 provides a national governance framework that ensures technology adoption in agriculture, energy, and industry accelerates climate adaptation efforts.
It also enhances inter-ministerial collaboration to improve resource mobilization and policy execution, while prioritizing sustainable food systems in national planning and international partnerships.
Nnaji urged Commonwealth nations to unite in tackling climate-related food security risks.
He proposed the establishment of a Commonwealth Center for Climate-Smart Agriculture to serve as a knowledge-sharing hub for innovative farming techniques and sustainable food production.
He also called for simplified climate finance access through equitable financial mechanisms to support climate-smart agricultural projects.
In addition, he emphasised the importance of youth and women empowerment by encouraging youth-led agritech startups and women-led agricultural enterprises to drive the future of sustainable farming.
He also advocated for increased investments in carbon credit and sustainable agriculture to create new revenue streams through carbon trading and agroforestry programs.
“This is a shared responsibility,” the Minister declared. “We must rise to the challenge and move forward together.”
Nigeria’s proactive approach demonstrates that climate resilience and food security are achievable through innovation, investment, and collaboration.
As the Commonwealth continues to shape the future of sustainable development, Nigeria is emerging as a global leader in integrating technology-driven climate solutions.
“Together, we can build a climate-resilient, food-secure, and prosperous future for all,” Nnaji emphasised.
