How Nigeria Can Secure Global Climate Funds—Govt Pushes for Bankable Projects

By: Abudu Olalekan

Here’s the thing. Nigeria is running out of time.

Floods. Droughts. Crops failing. Cities choking on heat. The signs are everywhere. And the government? Well, they’re not just sitting around. They’re saying—loud and clear—that if Nigeria wants to survive the climate crisis, it needs projects. Not just any projects. Bankable ones. The kind that make investors sit up and open their wallets.

Last week, in a stuffy conference room in Abuja, the Federal Ministry of Environment dropped a truth bomb. Mahmud Kambari, the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, didn’t mince words. “We’ve done the reports. We’ve mapped the risks. Now? Now we need action.” His voice carried the weight of a country on the edge.

The workshop wasn’t just another talk shop. It was a call to arms. Stakeholders—scientists, policymakers, activists—gathered to turn Nigeria’s climate woes into opportunities. Because let’s be real: begging for funds won’t cut it. Nigeria needs projects so solid, so investable, that the Green Climate Fund (GCF) can’t say no.

The Hard Truth About Nigeria’s Climate Fight

Nigeria isn’t just fighting rising temperatures. It’s fighting for its future.

Extreme weather? Check. Food shortages? Check. Crumbling infrastructure? Double check. The country’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) has been in the works for years, backed by the GCF and UNEP. They’ve done the homework—risk assessments, economic appraisals, finance strategies. But paperwork alone won’t stop the next flood.

Kambari put it bluntly: “We’ve got the frameworks. Now we need projects that work.” Projects that don’t just look good on paper but actually shield farmers, protect cities, and keep the lights on when the next storm hits.

The Workshop That Could Change Everything

So, what was the point of this Abuja gathering?

Simple. Turn ideas into bankable concept notes. Align them with Nigeria’s needs and the GCF’s rules. Get everyone—ministries, agencies, experts—on the same page. Because if Nigeria wants GCF money, it can’t just ask. It has to compete.

Dr. Iniobong Abiola-Awe, head of the Department of Climate Change, drove the message home. “This isn’t just another meeting. It’s our shot at securing funds that could save lives.” She didn’t sugarcoat it. Nigeria’s NAP is almost done. The frameworks are set. Now? Now it’s about execution.

The Stakes? Higher Than Ever

Here’s the kicker. Nigeria isn’t just fighting climate change. It’s fighting for its place in the global economy. Miss this chance, and the country risks falling behind—again.

But if these projects take off? If they’re smart, scalable, and investor-ready? Then Nigeria doesn’t just get funds. It gets a fighting chance.

Kambari’s closing words stuck with everyone: “The world isn’t waiting for us. We have to move. Now.“