Development of natural capital accounts, data, tools, and analyses
In FY25, the land and ecosystem accounts developed in the previous fiscal year were endorsed by national stakeholders and subsequently published for public access. Additionally, the analysis of the drivers of tree cover loss was made publicly available. Furthermore, the report examining Nigeria’s diversification strategies within the context of the global low-carbon transition, supported by the CGE model ENVISAGE, was published and made accessible to the public.
Three analytical documents have been started in FY25 and are planned to be delivered in FY26. The CIC program supported an analysis on the relationship between wood fuel consumption, time collecting wood, gender, and social inclusion. This analysis is a background note for Nigeria CCDR and will be published in FY26. In addition, two analyses on the relationship between vegetation cover, agricultural productivity, and household climate resilience have been designed, and will be delivered in FY26.
Informing investments and/or policies
The CIC program played a key role since FY24 in implementing the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes project. This initiative aims to promote the adoption of sustainable landscape management practices within selected watersheds in northern Nigeria while enhancing the nation's capacity for integrated, climate-resilient landscape management over the long term. In FY25, ecosystem accounts developed for Nasarawa and Kaduna States served as foundational resources for preparing Strategic Watershed Management Plans in both regions. Furthermore, micro catchment planning is underway in these states using evidence on ecosystem accounts.
Land and ecosystem accounting produced under the CIC programs has served as a benchmark for the inclusion of natural capital accounting in the National Strategy for Development of Statistics (2025–2029) (NSDS). The purpose of NSDS is to provide a mechanism for further reform of the national statistics system and acceleration of statistical development in Nigeria. The NSDS (2025–2029) is in draft and going through the validation process. The CIC team worked closely with them, helping to facilitate the creation of the land accounting working group, as well as producing land and ecosystem benchmark accounts. Comments were provided to the draft strategy, and NCA/satellite accounts have been included in the strategy.
In addition, the technical analysis on tree cover loss and the policy analysis note on diversification with mitigation outcomes (using the CGE model), contributed to the development of the National Climate Change Action Plan. As per the Climate Change Act, the National Climate Change Council (NCCC) Secretariat is mandated to prepare a National Climate Change Action Plan. The aim of the plan is to identify key activities that need to be undertaken by institutions that are part of the NCCC, and they will be monitored annually by the Secretariat. The plan is currently in the draft stage and is expected to be finalized in FY26, before COP30. The recommendations provided in the policy note on diversification with mitigation outcomes, and the data of the tree cover loss analysis, have been presented and shared with the NCCC Secretariat and taken as an input for drafting the National Climate Change Action Plan.
Land accounts, the study on drivers of tree cover loss analysis, and the study on wood fuel and poverty have informed the initial design, will and served as an input to developing the project proposal for the planned Sustainable Forest Economy and Clean Cooking project. The proposal will also benefit from the inputs from the two new studies being conducted in FY26 on forests, agricultural productivity, and households’ resilience to climate.
Capacity Building and Institutionalization
Several public sector entities have actively engaged with this initiative, taking leading roles to help institutionalize the production of natural capital accounting in Nigeria. The National Bureau of Statistics chaired the ecosystem and land accounting working group, and the greenhouse gas accounting working group. The National Space Research and Development Agency is the lead agency for defining national land classification in the ecosystem and land accounting working group. The Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, and National Climate Change Council Secretariat are active members of the different working groups. The Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning was the main counterpart for the policy note on diversification with mitigation outcomes.
Two workshops to ensure capacity building and knowledge transfer were organized in FY25:
- A training for journalists on natural capital accounting workshop took place during May 21-22, 2025, bringing together 17 journalists across television, radio, print, and online media to expand their understanding of natural capital, sustainability reporting, and how NCA can support better decision-making in environmental and economic planning. The training was focused on the NCA work of the Nigerian government supported by the World Bank. Seventy percent of the participants were women.
- Land Use and Land Cover workshop was held during 3-24 June 2025, led by the National Space Research and Development Agency, to help finalize the LULC classification and a road map for producing land accounts. a total of 57 participants from different governmental and non-governmental organizations took part, including National boundary commission, National Bureau of Statistics, Office of the Surveyor General of the Federation, Federal Ministry of Environment, State governments of Kaduna, Nasarawa, Cross river, Oyo, National Centre for Remote Sensing Jos, universities, and Civil Society Organizations. Forty-four percent of the workshop participants were female. A Communique and a roadmap to produce land accounts in Nigeria was co-created by the participants.
Communication
A National Natural Capital Forum took place on June 5th, 2025, to celebrate Global Environmental Day, organized by the World Bank in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics, Federal Ministry of Environment, and National Climate Change Council Secretariat. The objective of the workshop was to present and discuss the main NCA results and insights and share the experience gained from the preparation of the first NCA accounts. The workshop was attended by 55 participants from several governmental agencies, including Ministry of Environment, National Bureau of Statistics, Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, State governments, and the National Space Research and Development Agency. Forty-five percent of the participants were women. The forum received lengthy media coverage from the national press.
