Nigeria’s carbon market framework to attract billions of dollars in climate investment — Sale Anka

The Director of Climate Change at the Kano State Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Malam. Sale Anka has described Nigeria’s newly developed Climate Change and Carbon Market Framework as a crucial step towards securing the country’s access to global climate finance and carbon credit opportunities.

In an exclusive interview with SolaceBase, Anka explained that the framework provides institutional and legal backing for all carbon-related transactions, a move he said would ensure both investor confidence and environmental protection.

“The Nigerian Climate Change Carbon Market Framework is designed to provide security for the country in terms of accessing climate finance and carbon credits. It gives institutional backing for all transactions and creates investment opportunities,” he said.

According to Anka, the initiative is expected to attract between $2.2 billion and $3 billion annually into Nigeria’s economy through climate-related investments.

He emphasized that such a large-scale program requires well-defined policies and legal structures to guide operations and ensure transparency.

Framework to Strengthen Environmental Governance, Anka noted that the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment and corresponding state ministries, remains at the forefront of addressing climate-related challenges. He added that protecting the environment involves inclusive policymaking that recognizes the roles of all stakeholders — from government agencies and civil society to the media and citizens.

“Climate change affects everyone, so our approach must be holistic. We need to bring together the whole society — government, citizens, civil society, and the media — to fight it collectively,” he stressed.

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On the economic side, the director highlighted that the existence of a legal framework gives potential investors the confidence to participate in Nigeria’s carbon market.

“Investors need assurance that their transactions are backed by law. This framework provides that security, which will help attract more investments into the country,” he said.

Anka also revealed that Nigerian representatives attending the COP30 in Belém, Brazil, will engage with potential climate partners and promote the country’s new policy direction.

Speaking on Nigeria’s expected role at the global climate summit, Anka reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), noting that active participation ensures Nigeria’s unique climate challenges are adequately represented.

“Nigeria’s voice must be heard at the COP because our climate challenges differ from those of other countries. For instance, Kano faces desertification and flooding due to its semi-arid location, while coastal regions deal with rising sea levels,” he explained.

He referenced the UNFCCC’s principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities”, which acknowledges that while all nations share a duty to combat climate change, their specific vulnerabilities and capacities differ.

In his final remarks, Anka appealed to Nigerians to support government initiatives aimed at environmental protection, warning that any actions undermining such efforts would ultimately harm the society.

“Climate change affects everyone. Protecting the environment means protecting ourselves and ensuring a sustainable future,” he concluded.