(DDM) – The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially launched the Net-Zero Nature Positive Project in Bayelsa and Rivers States, marking a major step in the country’s ongoing fight against climate change and ecosystem degradation.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the ambitious initiative is being funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
According to the Director of Forestry in the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mrs. Halima Bawa-Bwari, the project demonstrates Nigeria’s renewed commitment to achieving a Net-Zero, Nature-Positive future through sustainable environmental management and biodiversity restoration.
Bawa-Bwari explained that the program is designed to strengthen conservation efforts, restore degraded ecosystems, and stimulate green investments that will provide long-term environmental and economic benefits to the Niger Delta region.
She noted that the initiative aligns with Nigeria’s broader national strategy on climate action, forest protection, and community-based resource management, particularly in areas heavily affected by oil exploration and deforestation.
UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, described the project as a crucial contribution to Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan and climate adaptation goals, stressing that it would help local communities adapt to the realities of a changing environment.
She added that the project will not only promote reforestation and carbon reduction but also create economic opportunities through sustainable livelihoods and renewable energy ventures.
UNEP representatives present at the event also reaffirmed their support for Nigeria’s environmental initiatives, pledging continued technical assistance to ensure the success and replicability of the project across other ecologically sensitive regions.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) learned that government officials from Bayelsa and Rivers States commended the partnership, describing it as a timely intervention that would tackle long-standing issues of oil pollution, flooding, and habitat destruction in the region.
Bayelsa State Commissioner for Environment, Izibeyin Fiebai, said the project will help restore mangrove forests and wetland ecosystems that have been severely damaged by decades of oil spills and unregulated industrial activities.
Similarly, Rivers State officials emphasized that the initiative would strengthen local climate resilience, enhance community participation, and improve natural resource governance through inclusive environmental policies.
Environmental experts told DDM that the Niger Delta, which serves as Nigeria’s oil-producing hub, remains one of the most ecologically fragile regions in West Africa due to constant exposure to environmental degradation and poor remediation practices.
They noted that the new Net-Zero project could serve as a turning point if implemented effectively, ensuring that the region transitions from pollution to regeneration and sustainable growth.
Nigeria, which has pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2060, continues to implement a range of climate initiatives in line with global commitments under the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Analysts believe that projects like this could help position Nigeria as a continental leader in climate adaptation and renewable ecosystem management if matched with consistent policy enforcement and community engagement.
By bringing together international agencies, government ministries, and local communities, the Net-Zero Nature Positive Project represents a practical roadmap toward restoring balance between Nigeria’s development ambitions and its environmental responsibilities.
