By joshua Climate Finance Is Not A Freebie, States Must Move From Intent To Action — Kogi Climate DG, Ajibade
The Director-General of the Kogi State Climate Change Agency, Michael Onimisi Ajibade, has called on Nigerian Sub-national governments to move from climate finance intent to strategic action, warning that global climate grants are accessed through readiness, not mere policy statements.
Speaking on the theme: “Building Climate Finance Readiness: Nigerian Entities must Move From Climate Finance Intent to Strategic Action, and Procrastination to Results,” Ajibade said he has observed with growing concern the limited capacity of states to navigate and unlock the climate finance landscape.
“Global climate finance and grants do not come to states simply because they have a climate policy or because they express interest in climate action. Climate finance is accessed through readiness,” he stated.
According to him, international and domestic financing institutions increasingly look for strong governance, credible institutions, sound fiduciary systems, viable projects, measurable results and clear alignment with national climate priorities.
He noted that many sub-national governments harbour the misconception that climate finance is a freebie, while continuing to develop policies and frameworks that remain on shelves without translation into practical programmes and projects.
“A policy is only as valuable as the action it produces. States must begin to treat climate finance readiness as a serious development priority and deliberately build the systems, expertise and project pipelines required to attract and effectively utilise available resources,” Ajibade said.
He urged states to develop bankable mitigation, adaptation and resilience projects, strengthen climate data and Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) systems, integrate climate considerations into development plans and annual budgets, improve institutional coordination, build technical capacity and create enabling conditions for private-sector participation.
Ajibade stressed that state-level climate actions must be properly aligned with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), national climate policies and ensure that MRV conforms with Biennial Transparency Reporting (BTR).
“The NDC should not remain a national document discussed mainly at conferences. Its priorities must find practical expression in our states, local governments, communities, projects and investments,” he added.
He called for a fundamental shift in mindset, stating that climate action should not be treated as an activity undertaken only when funding becomes available, but rather as deliberate institutional readiness that makes states worthy of receiving finance.
“I am particularly concerned about states that have developed climate policies but have not followed them with clear action plans, states that have established governance structures but have not made them operational and states that are waiting for climate funds to arrive before taking meaningful action. This approach will increasingly put such states at a disadvantage,” he warned.
Ajibade noted that the global climate finance environment is becoming more competitive and rigorous, and only states that prepare their institutions, develop quality projects, provide credible data, demonstrate transparency and establish sustainable financing mechanisms will be better positioned to attract resources.
“States that want to benefit from the climate finance opportunities must begin preparing now. Their climate finance readiness must move from aspiration to deliberate government action. States must begin to operate like real ECONOMIES, not drainage pipes for mere resources distribution. They must institute actions and framework to mobilise private capital and development finance for sustainable growth,” he said.
He concluded with a counsel from the Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change, Dr. Tenioye Majekodunmi: “Ambition without investment remains aspirations, but ambition backed by capital becomes implementation.”