Climate Governance Ranking 2025: Katsina Takes Top Spot as FG Urges States to Step Up
By: Abudu Olalekan
The federal government isn’t mincing words anymore. It wants all 36 states — and the FCT — to stop treating climate action like an afterthought and actually weave it into their development and investment plans.
That message came through loud and clear at the 3rd Sub-national Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking, which held Thursday, October 8, 2026, in Abuja. The event was put together by the Ministry of Environment alongside the Society for Planet & Prosperity (SPP). And the mood was one part celebration, one part wake-up call.
Nigeria’s Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, didn’t hold back. He stressed that if state governments genuinely cooperate, the country can build real resilience, shift toward a low-carbon pathway, and still drive prosperity — without leaving any community behind. That’s a big ask. But he seemed to believe it’s doable.
“I commend all 36 states and the FCT for their participation and continued commitment,” Lawal said. “I encourage every state to use this initiative as a pathway towards stronger climate governance, greater resilience and sustainable development.”
He also reassured everyone that under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the federal government remains committed to working with relevant stakeholders. Technical assistance, capacity building, partnerships — all of that is supposedly on the table.
Now, here’s how the ranking actually works. It’s not just about which state has the worst flooding or the most dramatic drought stories. Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, President of SPP, broke it down during his presentation.
The assessment looked at how well Nigeria’s 36 states are actually governing and implementing climate action. Five key areas were examined: climate institutions and governance, climate policy and action plans, project implementation and monitoring, climate budgeting and finance, and — interestingly — how visible a state’s climate activities are online.
This year had a twist, too. States had to provide evidence of five major climate projects. Only the best three got scored. So you couldn’t just pad your submission and hope for the best.
“The ranking was based on evidence submitted by the states, followed by verification, with strict emphasis on transparency and integrity,” Professor Okereke explained. Budgeting, access to climate finance, stakeholder participation, monitoring and evaluation — all of it factored in.
The good news? Overall, the results showed real improvement in state-level climate action compared to previous years. Professor Okereke noted that continued collaboration, peer learning, stronger implementation, and better access to climate finance could push things even further. Nigeria’s response to the climate emergency is getting better. Slowly, but it’s getting there.
And the winner? Katsina State.
Professor Mohammed Alamin, Katsina’s Commissioner of Environment and Special Advisor on Climate Change, accepted the award and shared some perspective that hit different. For Katsina, he said, the climate agenda isn’t just an environmental talking point. It’s a development issue. A security issue, even. The state is dealing with desertification, resource pressure, and climate variability that directly impact agriculture, livelihoods, and entire communities.
That framing — climate as a matter of survival, not just policy — is exactly the kind of thinking that probably earned them the top spot.
Olalekan A. Abudu is a seasoned and dedicated News Journalist at REPORTERS ROOM, with over eight years of experience. He specializes in politics, climate change, health, and education, while also covering security, economic, and judicial issues. Committed to accuracy and balanced reporting, Olalekan exemplifies the principles of public-interest journalism.