The Niger State Government has called for increased global commitment and coordinated action to address the growing effects of climate change, which continue to threaten agricultural production, food security and rural livelihoods.
Speaking in an interview on Thursday, Deputy Governor Yakubu Garba stated that climate action in Niger was not only a local necessity but also a crucial contribution to Africa’s wider climate commitments.
“Investing in Niger means investing in the resilience of over six million people, in food security, and in the protection of critical ecosystems that sustain Nigeria’s environmental balance,” Garba said.
He described the state as richly endowed with natural resources and fertile agricultural land, supported by a population determined to build a sustainable and climate-smart future.
Garba highlighted Niger’s Green Sustainable Agenda, noting that climate action has been integrated across key sectors of governance, including agriculture, forestry, energy, water resources, waste management and sustainable livelihoods.
According to him, the state’s roadmap aligns with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and Africa’s broader demand for equitable climate finance and fair development partnerships.
He explained that while Niger has initiated renewable energy projects, afforestation programmes, climate-smart agricultural practices and youth-led waste-to-wealth enterprises, financial limitations have restricted the scale of implementation.
The deputy governor, therefore, urged development partners, climate funds and private investors to collaborate with the state in mobilising climate finance through concessional funding, carbon market access and blended financing mechanisms.
He also stressed the importance of technology transfer and innovation in accelerating low-carbon development, adding that young people must play a central role in driving the state’s green transformation.
“Niger seeks collaboration with research institutions, development partners and climate investors to promote clean energy, digital climate information systems and modern agricultural technologies,” he said.
Garba noted that equipping young people with the right skills, tools and training would create employment opportunities, encourage green entrepreneurship and strengthen climate-smart agricultural value chains.
He further revealed that the state is seeking partnerships to establish green innovation hubs, renewable energy clusters and digital monitoring systems to improve climate action tracking and impact measurement.
Highlighting the direct impact of climate change on local communities, Garba listed unpredictable rainfall patterns, floods, droughts, desert encroachment and declining crop yields as major challenges facing farmers.
In response, he said Niger has launched community-based adaptation programmes that combine indigenous knowledge with modern scientific solutions, including land restoration projects, improved irrigation support and early-warning systems for farmers.
Source: NAN
