ABUJA/Nigeria: The Federal Ministry of Environment, through its Department of Climate Change (DCC), in collaboration with the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), has launched the second edition of the Subnational Climate Governance Performance Ranking, in a renewed effort to boost climate action and accountability across Nigeria’s 36 states.
The announcement was made in a statement released on Tuesday in Lagos by Mr. Ugochukwu Uzuegbu, Communications Officer at SPP. The launch was formally flagged off during a virtual workshop attended by more than 40 state-level climate officials, including directors, permanent secretaries, climate focal persons, and desk officers.
Speaking at the opening session, Director of the DCC, Dr. Iniobong Abiola-Awe, described the ranking as a transformative tool that promotes transparency, encourages best practices, and strengthens climate policy implementation at the subnational level. She emphasized that the initiative, endorsed by the Minister of Environment, represents a flagship achievement and a strategic driver for climate resilience in Nigeria.
“This ranking is a tool not only for evaluation but for transformation — helping us identify gaps, scale solutions, and deepen inclusive governance,” Dr. Abiola-Awe said, calling for greater innovation and collaboration among states.
President of SPP, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, praised the commitment of state-level climate desk officers, whom he called the “real heroes” of the inaugural ranking. He noted that the initiative — believed to be the first of its kind in Africa — is gaining international recognition and will be improved with a new review panel comprising national and global experts to ensure credibility and methodological rigor.
Prof. Okereke outlined major enhancements in the 2025 edition, including greater emphasis on project implementation, mandatory endorsement of submissions by commissioners or permanent secretaries, incentive-based rewards for top-performing states, and expanded training for key stakeholders.
Chairperson of the Committee of Commissioners for Environment and Ekiti State’s Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mrs. Tosin Aluko, pledged full backing for the ranking and affirmed Ekiti State’s readiness to provide accurate data. The inaugural edition, launched in July 2024, had recognized Lagos, Gombe, Ebonyi, Borno, and Ekiti as top performers. The initiative aims to accelerate subnational climate action through transparency, competitiveness, and capacity building.
