Niger to establish carbon market office, targets green investment boost

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The Niger State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to establishing the Niger State Carbon Market Office as part of efforts to position the state as a key player in Nigeria’s emerging carbon market ecosystem.

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This was contained in a statement issued on Friday by the Focal Officer to the Niger State Government, Aliyu Umar, following an exploratory meeting with stakeholders, development partners, and technical experts on the proposed framework.

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The statement said the initiative is part of a broader strategy by the state government to align environmental sustainability with economic growth, revenue diversification, and investment attraction.

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Speaking through the statement, the Secretary to the State Government, Abubakar Usman, said the initiative represents a major milestone in the state’s development agenda.

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He said, “The initiative is a significant milestone in the state’s broader agenda to align environmental sustainability with economic growth, revenue diversification, and investment attraction.”

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He said the administration of Governor Umar Bago remained committed to forward-looking policies that address environmental challenges while unlocking economic opportunities.

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He said, “Under the leadership of Governor Umar Bago, the administration remains focused on implementing forward-looking policies capable of addressing environmental challenges while unlocking new economic opportunities for the people of Niger State.”

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The SSG added that the carbon market initiative goes beyond environmental concerns, describing it as an economic strategy.

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“According to him, the establishment of the Carbon Market Office is not merely an environmental programme but a strategic economic intervention designed to open access to climate finance, stimulate green investments, create jobs, and strengthen the state’s revenue base”, he continued.

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He explained that his office would coordinate policy alignment and ensure collaboration across government institutions.

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“The SSG explained that his office, as the coordinating arm of government, would ensure a whole-of-government approach to the initiative by driving policy coherence, institutional alignment, and seamless collaboration among all relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies”, he explained.

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He noted that the state would adopt a phased implementation approach to ensure efficiency and sustainability.

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“He noted that the state is adopting a deliberate, phased, and disciplined model for implementation to ensure efficiency, accountability, and long-term sustainability.”

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According to the governance structure outlined, the Governor will provide strategic leadership, while the SSG’s office will oversee coordination. The Ministry of Environment will serve as the interim focal point, while the NSCMO will act as the central coordinating platform.

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The statement added that the structure was deliberately designed to reduce bureaucracy and improve execution.

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“The SSG said the lean institutional framework was intentionally designed to reduce bureaucracy, eliminate duplication, and accelerate execution while allowing room for gradual expansion as the initiative matures.”

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It further stated that the state would rely on international partnerships and technical expertise to meet global standards.

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“He added that Niger State recognises the technical complexities of carbon markets and will therefore leverage international partnerships and external expertise in key areas such as carbon accounting, Monitoring, Reporting and Verification, project certification, and market access”, he said.

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The SSG said this would help build investor confidence and ensure global compliance. “According to him, this approach will ensure that Niger State’s entry into the carbon market meets global standards from inception and inspires investor confidence”, he added.

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He further clarified that legal oversight would rest with the Ministry of Justice, while relevant agencies would operate within their mandates.

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“According to him, all legal and regulatory responsibilities relating to the initiative would be domiciled in the Ministry of Justice in line with established government procedures, while agencies such as the Niger State Environmental Protection Agency would contribute strictly within their statutory mandates, particularly in waste management and landfill-related carbon projects”, he said.

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The SSG urged stakeholders to support the initiative, describing it as a major opportunity for the state.

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“Niger State is ready to take the lead, and with the right partnerships and commitment, we can position ourselves as a model for subnational carbon market development in Nigeria,” he said.

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The statement added that the meeting provided a platform for stakeholders to align expectations and develop a roadmap for implementation.

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