By Fatima Saka
The Federal Government of Nigeria, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Global Environment Facility (GEF), and other development partners, has launched the Net Zero Nature Positive (NZNP) Project, a transformative initiative aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s transition toward a climate resilient, biodiversity, rich, and sustainable future.
The inception workshop and Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) training for the project were held on Monday in Abuja, bringing together key stakeholders from federal and state agencies, private sector players, development partners, civil society organizations, and the media.
Speaking at the event, Mrs. Aneke Agnes Nkechi, Director of Planning, Research and Statistics and GEF Operational Focal Point, Federal Ministry of Environment, described the project as a major step toward achieving Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), Nature Positive Commitment by 2030, and Net Zero Emission Target by 2060.
According to her, the initiative, implemented in the Niger Delta’s Bayelsa and Rivers States, will promote ecosystem restoration, expand access to clean energy, and de-risk sustainable investments, particularly in vulnerable communities facing the disproportionate impacts of climate change and biodiversity loss.
“The threat of climate change and biodiversity loss are interlinked and continue to compromise the ability of ecosystems to adapt. Through the GEF-funded Net Zero Nature Positive Accelerator, we aim to tackle these crises in ways that protect women, children, and rural dwellers in the Niger Delta,” Mrs. Aneke stated.
Director of Forestry, Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Halima Bawa-Bwari, emphasized Nigeria’s growing leadership in biodiversity conservation, noting the country’s vast network of national parks, forest reserves, and Ramsar sites.
“With the NZNP project, Nigeria strengthens its institutional coordination and investment pipelines toward low-carbon, nature-positive development. This is a model of how climate action and nature conservation can go hand in hand,” she said.
According to the Director of Forestry The NZNP Project is one of 11 integrated programs under the GEF-8 cycle and represents Nigeria’s inclusion among 12 pioneering countries advancing nature-based solutions to combat climate change and biodiversity loss.
In her remarks, UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Mrs. Elsie Attafuah was represented by the Deputy Resident Representative (Operations) Mr. Blessed T. Chirimuta, commended the Federal Government for its leadership and reaffirmed UNDP’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s green transition.
“This project is not just a launch, it is the beginning of a movement,” Attafuah said. “The Niger Delta, rich in biodiversity but long burdened by pollution and degradation, now has a chance to restore its ecosystems and redefine its future.”
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She added that through partnerships with state governments, local communities, women’s cooperatives, youth networks, and the private sector, the NZNP project would deliver tangible benefits, including restored wetlands, new green jobs, and greater community resilience against climate shocks.
Stakeholders reiterated the importance of collaboration and innovation in delivering on the project’s objectives, urging all participants to ensure that the initiative translates into lasting environmental and socioeconomic gains for communities in the Niger Delta.
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