Gov Bago Positions Niger State As Nigeria’s Carbon Market Hub At UN Climate Talks
As global efforts to tackle climate change increasingly shift towards market-driven solutions, Niger State is positioning itself at the forefront of Nigeria’s emerging carbon economy.
Governor Umar Mohammed Bago led a high-level Niger State delegation to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) platform in Bonn, Germany, where discussions focused on unlocking climate finance opportunities through carbon markets under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
The engagement brought together government officials, international climate finance institutions and development partners to explore investment opportunities in methane reduction, landfill gas recovery and other emissions mitigation projects.
Governor Bago said Niger State was ready to move beyond climate commitments to practical investments that support infrastructure development, energy transition, agriculture, waste management and environmental sustainability.
He advocated an enterprise-driven carbon market model capable of attracting private investment and delivering measurable climate outcomes.
A major outcome of the meeting was the commitment to develop pilot methane and landfill gas recovery projects in Niger State, alongside a structured capacity-building programme involving the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), ICA Finance and other international partners.
ICA Finance, which has mobilised more than €150 million in global carbon finance projects, expressed interest in supporting Niger State’s climate initiatives, particularly methane capture and landfill gas recovery schemes.
Stakeholders also called for faster issuance of Letters of Authorisation (LOAs), improved carbon accounting systems and stronger public-private partnerships to unlock investment opportunities across sectors including agriculture, cement production, aviation, oil and gas, forestry and waste management.
The meeting concluded with plans for a scoping mission to Niger State and renewed support for positioning the state as a pilot hub for carbon market innovation in Nigeria.
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