The Federal Government has inaugurated a Project Steering Committee (PSC) to drive the implementation of the Capacity Building Initiative for Transparency (CBIT), a Global Environment Facility-backed programme aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s climate accountability and data systems.
The initiative, coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Environment, is designed to enhance the country’s capacity to track, report and verify climate actions in line with its commitments under the Paris Agreement.
Speaking at the inauguration in Abuja, the Director of Forestry at the ministry, Halima Bawa-Bwari, described the committee as a critical mechanism for strengthening coordination and oversight. Represented by Deputy Director Aiwuyo Christopher, she said the PSC would provide policy direction, ensure institutional alignment and address implementation challenges.
Bawa-Bwari explained that the CBIT programme, established under the Global Environment Facility following decisions reached at COP21, supports countries in meeting enhanced transparency requirements. For Nigeria, she noted, the initiative will improve the generation, management and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions data across key sectors of the economy.
She added that the project would strengthen institutional frameworks, build technical capacity among stakeholders and support the development of a digital platform to promote transparent and accessible climate data.
Also speaking, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics at the ministry and GEF Operational Focal Point for Nigeria, Babagana Bukar, said the committee would guide implementation, resolve bottlenecks and align the project with national priorities, including the Energy Transition Plan and Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions.
The representative of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Hussein Gadain—represented by Adesoji Adeyemi—reaffirmed the organisation’s support for strengthening transparency through improved data systems and partnerships.
Similarly, the Director-General of the Nigeria Conservation Foundation, Joseph Onoja, stressed the importance of collaboration to ensure effective implementation and measurable outcomes, warning against duplication of efforts.
A representative of the National Council on Climate Change, Ann Umas, said the initiative would help build a robust, data-driven foundation for climate governance and informed decision-making.
The inauguration, organised by the Department of Forestry in collaboration with FAO and the Nigeria Conservation Foundation, marks a significant step toward enhancing Nigeria’s climate transparency framework, improving data integrity and strengthening its credibility in the global climate governance space.
