In what stakeholders have termed a show of force in the implementation of Nigeria’s numerous climate action-driven programmes, the federal government has started work on the country’s Second Biennial Transparency Report and Fourth National Communication (BTR2/NC4).
Speaking at a workshop organised by the National Council on Climate Change Secretariat (NCCCS) in Abuja on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, Dr. Nkiruka Maduekwe, the Director General of the Council, characterised the BTR2/NC4 as two crucial instruments for tracking climate progress and promoting strong alignment with more efficient data-driven climate action.
The DG, who was represented at the event by Dr. Chukwuemeka Okebugwu, an assistant director with the NCCCS, informed the participants that the meeting was held as a basic prerequisite for improving confidence and transparency in the execution of the Paris Agreement.
According to her, this process will eventually create a strong institutional framework that allows data and information to flow freely, enabling the realisation of high-quality reporting throughout the country.
Dr. Maduekwe, who also serves as the special presidential envoy on climate change, revealed that Nigeria has prepared and submitted three national communications to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), two biennial update reports, and the recently submitted first BTR in December 2024.
“Today, we have convened again to commence the preparation of the next circle of reporting in the BTR2 and NC4 as a combined implementation as required under the enhanced transparency framework of the Paris Agreement,” the DG stated.
The federal government and development agencies such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supported the technical sessions, which brought key stakeholders together to brainstorm, coordinate and establish a compliance procedure as well as data requirements to improve the BTR2/NC4 report.
Nigeria ratified the convention in August 2024, in accordance with the Conference of Parties (COP) resolutions. During the technical session, it was revealed that in 2023, Nigeria was ranked medium in the Climate Change Performance Index (CCPI) 2025 ranking results, ahead of South Africa. Nigeria has been consistent in reporting on major outcomes; nevertheless, analysts argue the policy does not provide adequate support for the initiatives.
During the analysis of the BTR1, attendees identified gaps such as collective data from relevant institutions, greenhouse gas (GHG) inventory setup, quantifying Nigeria’s climate resilience in access to clean electricity over the last four years, and climate reportage through reliable sources for wider information dissemination to improve citizens’ understanding, among other things.
By Nsikak Emmanuel Ekere, Abuja