Nigeria Builds Unified Carbon Registry to Track Emissions

The National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) began building a unified national carbon registry in Abuja on Tuesday, 6 October 2026, to verify carbon credits and pull foreign climate finance into Nigeria.

NCCC Director-General Mrs Omotenioye Majekodunmi presented the plan through Mr Michael Ivenso, the council’s Director of Energy, Transportation and Infrastructure, during a high-level roundtable with the European Union.

The council is deploying digital Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV) tools, using remote sensing, Internet of Things (IoT) sensors, geospatial data, and distributed ledger technology to guarantee accurate emissions tracking.

MRV represents a standardised system used to measure greenhouse gas emissions, report collected data to regulators, and verify accuracy through independent audits.

The initiative supports the National Carbon Markets Framework, which sets rules for voluntary trading, domestic regulation, and international climate cooperation under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.

The NCCC is working to publish sector-specific MRV guidelines, finalise national carbon market regulations, and create local capacity hubs to support climate projects.

European Union eyes international carbon credit imports

European Commission policy professional Jop Weterings stated that the European Union set a legal target to lower emissions by 40 per cent before 2040.

Weterings explained that the EU goal requires at least 85 per cent local reductions inside Europe, while allowing up to five per cent high-quality international carbon credits from 2036.

He said the European Union is expanding support for carbon pricing while partnering with Nigeria to build high-integrity market systems.

Weterings stressed that global market growth depends on clear quality controls, fair pricing, transparent accounting, and equitable benefit-sharing across host nations.

Yolanda Jose, Head of Green and Digital Economy at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, noted that Nigeria’s legal framework creates a clear foundation for domestic and international carbon trading.

Jose stated that the EU Climate Dialogues event aims to align stakeholders, improve MRV practices, and direct capital toward low-carbon development projects.

Government agencies standardise forestry data collection

Ministry of Environment Director of Forestry Mrs Halima Bawa-Bwari instructed state agencies to improve forest inventories, monitoring networks, artificial intelligence, and satellite technology to gather carbon data.

Bawa-Bwari stated that satellite tracking must work alongside ground field measurements to create single, transparent data channels without creating parallel reporting systems.

She warned against duplicated monitoring procedures, calling for clear institutional accountability, strong technical credibility, and open partnerships to build buyer confidence.

NDC Partnership Country Facilitator Mr Huzi Mshelia noted that reliable verification systems build investor trust and create shared national standards across industries.

Mshelia highlighted the need for direct partnerships between the NCCC, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Budget and National Planning to keep climate projects aligned with national development priorities.