Nigeria has taken the lead in West Africa’s climate action drive with the submission of its Third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), positioning the country for fresh global partnerships and investments at the ongoing COP30 summit in Belém, Brazil.
Vice President Kashim Shettima is expected to unveil Nigeria’s green transition roadmap before world leaders, articulating the country’s strategy to convert climate commitments into actionable projects that attract financing and technology.
Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Mrs. Tenioye Majekodunmi, announced Nigeria’s milestone in an interview with journalists ahead of the COP30 opening session.
She noted that Nigeria’s early submission of its NDC 3.0 makes it the first West African nation to do so and “a continental frontrunner in climate ambition and readiness.”
According to a statement on Thursday by Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications, Office of the Vice President, Stanley Nkwocha, Majekodunmi said “this is the implementation COP we’ve all been waiting for. For Nigeria, the submission of our NDC 3.0 marks a turning point. It’s time to move from paper to projects”.
She disclosed that the Federal Government’s recent approval of a National Carbon Market Framework and operationalisation of the National Climate Change Fund would further boost investor confidence, signalling that “Nigeria is open for high-integrity carbon investments delivering real mitigation and community benefits.”
According to her, the Belem summit provides a unique “global matchmaking platform” for Nigeria to showcase its readiness for sustainable climate financing.
She also revealed that Nigeria will use COP30 to strengthen South–South cooperation on climate matters, particularly through collaboration among the Amazon, Congo, and Guinea forest regions.
In her words: “Being in the Amazon for this summit represents a symbolic convergence of forest regions. The dialogue between Brazil, the Congo Basin, and West Africa is critical to advancing global forest protection and the Belem agenda.”
Also speaking, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Mr. Stanley Nkwocha, said Nigeria’s participation at COP30 underscores President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goal 13 on climate action.
“For Nigeria, it’s not just about attendance; it’s about demonstrating leadership and implementing Article 13 of the Paris Accord on transparency and climate responsibility,” Nkwocha stated, adding that Nigeria remains firmly committed to achieving a 32 per cent reduction in emissions by 2035.
Vice President Shettima will join global leaders, development partners, and investors in high-level sessions on “Climate and Nature: Forests and Oceans” and will deliver Nigeria’s national climate action address at the leaders’ plenary later this week.
