The Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Mrs. Omoteniyo Majekodunmi, has emphasized the need for stronger collaboration to achieve Nigeria's carbon finance and emission reduction goals.
She made this call on Tuesday in Abuja at a Validation Workshop on Operationalizing a Pilot Carbon Tax in Nigeria's Telecommunications Sector, highlighting that the Council's efforts are guided by the Climate Change Act 2021.
It was organized by the NCCC with the support of the UNFCCC's Regional Collaboration Centre for West and Central Africa (RCC WAC Africa).
The DG, represented by a senior officer of the Council, Mrs. Benedette Ejiofor, stated that the Council's efforts are guided by its statutory mandate under the Climate Change Act, 2021, which provides a framework for achieving low greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable green growth.
"Our work today is not discretionary; it is a direct fulfillment of our statutory obligation,"she stated.
"Nigeria is committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 through decisive, economy-wide reductions, as recommended by the Global Stocktake," Majekodunmi said.
She emphasized that funds generated from the carbon tax must be reinvested strategically to ensure the policy is equitable, efficient, and supports sustainable development.
Majekodunmi urged stakeholders to strengthen institutional relationships and build consensus to operationalize the pilot carbon tax. "The urgency of the climate crisis demands immediate and coordinated action," she added, highlighting the need for swift and collective efforts to address this global challenge.
Lead of UNFCCC RCC WAC Africa, Mr. Walter Tubua, clarified that the proposed carbon tax in Nigeria is designed to encourage positive behavior and drive climate-friendly innovation.
He said the initiative aims to incentivize environmentally responsible practices rather than impose burdensome taxation.
"The idea is not to tax carbon but to incentivize positive behavior and enable innovative actions that align with climate goals,"Tubua explained.
"Nigeria's participation in the carbon tax initiative is voluntary, and the country maintains the flexibility to adjust policies according to its national priorities," he clarified.
"In response to Nigeria's request, the UNFCCC's regional centre provided technical support to explore carbon pricing options tailored to the country's needs.
"The telecommunications sector was chosen as a pilot area to test the carbon pricing mechanism, with potential expansion to other sectors in the future.
"The goal is to empower Nigeria to make informed decisions about carbon pricing instruments that align with its national context," Tubua explained