FG Launches Net Zero Nature Positive for Rehabilitation of Niger Delta’s Ecosystem

Nigeria has launched the Net Zero Nature Positive (NZNP), an initiative targeting the rehabilitation of ecosystems in the Niger Delta while supporting the country’s transition to a low-carbon future.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment and global partners, officially unveiled the project in Abuja on Monday.

Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented alongside the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the initiative focuses on reversing decades of pollution and environmental degradation in Rivers and Bayelsa States.

The NZNP Project aligns with Nigeria’s ambition to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060 and to conserve 30 percent of its land and marine ecosystems by 2030. It seeks to integrate climate action with community empowerment by restoring biodiversity, creating green jobs, and enhancing local resilience.

Speaking at the inception workshop held in Abuja, the UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, said the project transcends policy and targets real people and communities.

She explained that the launch represents a collective movement to achieve sustainable development.

“Today, we are not just launching another development initiative.

“We are igniting a movement one that represents Nigeria’s bold and necessary commitment to achieve Net Zero by 2060 and to protect 30 percent of our ecosystems by 2030. These targets are ambitious but achievable if we partner genuinely and centre our efforts around the communities who need them most.”Attafuah said.

Attafuah described the Niger Delta as standing “at the frontline of Nigeria’s environmental crisis,” rich in biodiversity yet burdened by decades of pollution. She said the NZNP initiative offers “a rare chance to rebuild ecosystems, create green jobs, and restore a sense of hope.”

According to her, the project will engage government institutions, women’s cooperatives, youth networks, and indigenous communities to lead restoration efforts.

“We will work hand in hand with women’s groups, youth networks, and local researchers. These are not just beneficiaries they are the architects of the future we are building,” she added.

The UNDP representative also urged the private sector and academic institutions to play an active role, noting that environmental accountability and innovation are key to sustaining progress.

“This is a whole-of-society approach,”
“We are calling on the private sector to move from being part of the problem to becoming part of the solution. Investments must deliver real impact, and our universities must drive homegrown solutions.” She said .

In her remarks, Director of Forestry at the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Halima Bawa-Bwari, described the project as a defining moment in Nigeria’s environmental journey.

She said it demonstrates unity of purpose in building a climate-resilient and biodiversity-rich nation.

“Today marks a pivotal moment in our collective journey toward a future that is not only climate-resilient but also rich in biodiversity and inclusive in its development,” she said.

Bawa-Bwari emphasized the urgency of tackling climate change and biodiversity loss together, calling the NZNP an integrated and transformative response to these intertwined crises. She added that the programme will strengthen institutional coordination, restore degraded ecosystems, and ensure women and youth are empowered to lead change.

She also stressed Nigeria’s progress in conservation, citing its 17 National Parks and over 1,000 Forest Reserves as vital to preserving ecosystems.

“By embracing innovation and leveraging technologies to monitor deforestation, we are not just protecting nature we are securing livelihoods and safeguarding the future,” she said.

Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the Federal Ministry of Environment and the GEF Operational Focal Point, Mrs. Aneke Nkechi, on her part, said the NZNP Accelerator is one of the 11 integrated programmes under the GEF-8 cycle.

She noted that the initiative will accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a net-zero, nature-positive future through ecosystem restoration, clean energy expansion, and sustainable investments.

“The threat of climate change and biodiversity loss are interconnected and disproportionately affect women, children, and rural communities,”
“This project allows us to address both challenges together while strengthening collaboration among government, private sector, and development partners.” Nkechi explained.

She described the inception workshop and training as a platform to refine strategies and build capacity for effective delivery.

“This workshop provides an opportunity to align objectives and ensure that the project achieves its goals. The presence of all partners today reflects the shared commitment to making this initiative a success,” she said.

With the collaboration of federal and state governments, UN agencies, the private sector, and local communities, the Net Zero Nature Positive Project is expected to serve as a model for inclusive green growth and climate resilience not just in Nigeria, but across Africa.