By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Federal Government has launched the Third Edition of the Subnational Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking Report, with a call on state governments to integrate climate action into their development and investment priorities.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja, the government commended the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) for its continued partnership in sustaining the annual initiative, noting that the gathering was not merely to unveil a report but to take stock of progress, recognise achievements and renew commitment to translating Nigeria’s climate ambitions into practical results at state and community levels.
According to the government, climate change is no longer a distant environmental concern but a development, economic, social and security imperative, with impacts felt through flooding, excessive heat, drought and pressures on agriculture, food systems, water resources, infrastructure and livelihoods.
It stressed that Nigeria’s climate response cannot be delivered by the Federal Government alone, adding that the success of national commitments will depend on the strength of implementation at subnational and community levels.
“The Subnational Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking provides an important evidence-based mechanism to assess that progress. It allows us to ask practical questions: Do states have functional climate governance structures? Are climate priorities reflected in plans and budgets? Are resources being mobilized? Are projects being implemented? And are these actions delivering measurable benefits for our people?” the government said.
The government noted that since the introduction of the initiative, encouraging progress has been recorded, including stronger climate institutions, improved policy and planning frameworks, better coordination and growing implementation of climate-resilient and low-carbon initiatives.
It said the Third Edition moves the focus from institutions and policies to implementation, investment and results, with priorities centred on stronger state climate institutions, greater integration of climate priorities into plans and budgets, increased mobilisation of climate finance, stronger pipelines of bankable projects and tangible benefits for communities.
Calling on governors to make climate action integral to their development agenda, the Federal Government urged states to establish a clear pathway from policy to budget, budget to projects and projects to measurable results.
“The Ranking should not be viewed merely as a scorecard, but as a strategic management and accountability tool for identifying gaps, tracking progress and accelerating delivery,” it stated.
The government commended high-performing states and encouraged them to deepen implementation and share successful approaches, while urging states at early stages not to be discouraged, stressing that the exercise is about illuminating the pathway for improvement, not stigmatising states.
It reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to provide technical assistance, capacity development and collaboration to support states.
The government also charged Commissioners of Environment and other state institutions to translate climate leadership into action through stronger coordination, credible project pipelines and effective monitoring, while calling on development partners, financial institutions, private sector, academia and civil society to help move from policy to investment, innovation and scale.
It emphasised that climate action must respond to local realities and deliver tangible benefits, with women, youth, farmers, businesses and vulnerable groups meaningfully engaged as partners and agents of climate resilience.
“As Nigeria advances the implementation of its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC), the National Adaptation Plan and other national climate priorities, effective state-level delivery is indispensable. The message is simple: stronger institutions, better planning, greater investment, faster implementation and measurable results,” it added.
The Federal Government commended all 36 states and the FCT for their participation and commitment, urging them to use the initiative as a pathway towards stronger climate governance, greater resilience and sustainable development.
