EU Reaffirms Commitment to Nigeria’s Climate-Smart Agriculture, Sustainable Development

The European Union (EU) delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS has reiterated its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s sustainable development, particularly in climate-smart agriculture and digitalization. This announcement was made on Wednesday by the Head of the EU delegation, Massimo De Luca, through a statement issued in Abuja.

The statement, titled “EU launches Climate Month with impactful events,” emphasizes the EU’s ongoing efforts to promote sustainability in advance of COP29, scheduled for next month in Baku, Azerbaijan. As part of this initiative, the EU will host a series of events themed “Opportunities for Growing Green Together,” focusing on collaboration with Nigeria and other stakeholders.

“The EU Global Gateway is an EU strategy to invest in sustainable infrastructure projects worldwide,” the statement highlighted. In Nigeria, this initiative targets sectors such as energy, transport, digitalization, climate-smart agriculture, health, and education.

Key events planned for the EU Climate Month include the Green Bond Stakeholder Dialogue, the EU-Nigeria Climate and Energy Dialogue, training for Nigeria’s climate negotiators ahead of COP29, and workshops aimed at reducing methane emissions, particularly from the oil and gas sector. The launch of Nigeria’s Energy Support Programme III and initiatives promoting renewable energy investment are also on the agenda, alongside a focus on sustainable aviation fuel.

“The support for the Sustainable Aviation Fuel programme will focus on decarbonising the aviation sector by promoting the use of plant-based biofuels instead of conventional crude oil-derived fuels. This event is part of a broader EU multi-country intervention, for which Nigeria was prioritised,” the statement noted.

On October 10, senior representatives from European investment firms and Nigerian public and private entities convened in Abuja to explore opportunities in the green bond market, anticipating the launch of the EU’s Global Green Bonds Initiative, expected to generate green investments of “up to €15-20 billion.”

Massimo De Luca, Head of Cooperation for the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, remarked, “EU Climate Month reflects our deep commitment to driving sustainable solutions in partnership with Nigeria. Each event provides an opportunity not only to share knowledge and best practices but also to inspire innovation in tackling climate challenges. Our goal is to foster lasting, impactful change through collaboration, empowering both Nigeria and the EU to grow green together.”

He added, “This initiative is part of the EU’s Global Gateway Strategy, which focuses on investing in sustainable infrastructure globally. Through these efforts, we aim to support green growth, particularly in key sectors like energy, climate-smart agriculture, and digitalization, contributing to Nigeria’s sustainable development goals.” The training for Nigeria’s climate negotiators is designed to enhance the skills and knowledge of climate leaders and advocates in preparation for COP29.