Nigeria and Africa
Carbon project readiness in Nigeria: questions to check early
Nigeria's Climate Change Act 2021 established the National Council on Climate Change. Requirements for carbon projects are still developing, so each project's position should be checked early.
5 minute read
The national framework
Nigeria's Climate Change Act 2021 established the National Council on Climate Change. National requirements that may affect carbon projects, including any authorisations, are still developing.
Because the position can change, it should be checked at the time of assessment and again before key project milestones. This article is a general overview and is not legal advice.
Questions to ask early
Before investing heavily in documentation, project developers in Nigeria should be able to answer:
- Which national requirements and registrations apply to this project type at the time of assessment?
- Is any host-country authorisation needed for the intended use of the credits, for example under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement?
- Who holds the rights to the emission reductions, and is that documented with landowners, communities and partners?
- How will community engagement and safeguards be carried out and recorded?
- Is there a risk of double counting with other programmes, reporting or claims?
Build the evidence as you go
Many of these questions are easier to answer when evidence is collected from the start. A readiness assessment records gaps and agrees an action plan, so that issues are addressed before an independent body is engaged.
This article is general information and is not legal, financial or investment advice. Requirements and market practice change, so specific projects should be assessed on their own facts at the time.