Abia State Lauds EU-Funded Climate Programme, Calls for Expanded Partnership
By Jerry Adesewo
The Abia State Government has commended the European Union (EU) and the Nigeria Climate Change Response Programme (NCCRP) for selecting the state as one of the two pilot beneficiaries of the EU-funded Solid Waste Characterization Exercise, describing it as a landmark step in the state’s green development agenda.
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Speaking at the final dissemination seminar of the project in Abuja on Monday, the Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Abia State, Mr. Philemon Asonye Ohbonna, said the exercise, which lasted for over ten weeks, had brought both technical and socio-economic benefits to the people of the state.
“It is with profound joy and gratitude that I bear witness to the successful completion of the NCCRP–EU funded solid waste characterization exercise in Abia State,” the Commissioner said.
“This initiative reflects the seriousness and political will of the administration of His Excellency, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, towards climate change action and sustainable environmental management.”
He noted that under Governor Otti’s leadership, Abia has taken bold steps to institutionalize climate governance through the establishment of a Department of Climate Change, the conduct of vulnerability and community asset assessments, and the development of a draft Climate Change Policy. Other initiatives include the Clean Cooking Action Plan, participation in COP summits, and a newly approved Statewide Tree Planting Programme.
The Commissioner explained that the solid waste characterization exercise, which covered the Ntigha and Ariaria-Enyimba dumpsites in Umuahia and Aba, aligns with the state’s broader emission reduction goals and its vision for green, inclusive growth.
“Beyond its technical merits, this project empowered over 100 Abians—youths, women, men, and persons with disabilities—through practical training in waste characterization and segregation. Seven of these trainees have now emerged as expert waste segregators and potential trainers,” he said. “This is both an environmental and economic victory for our people.”
He commended the NCCRP team, for their professionalism, timeliness, and adherence to international standards, noting that the reports from the State’s Department of Climate Change confirmed the project’s quality and impact.
While expressing deep appreciation to the European Union, Conseil Santé, and other development partners for their collaboration, the Commissioner appealed for further engagement with Abia State through follow-up projects that will build on the data generated from the exercise.
“Like Oliver Twist, we ask for more,” he said. “We hope to see new programmes that deepen waste management reforms, enhance greenhouse gas mitigation, and position Abia as a model for Internationally Transferrable Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs) under global climate frameworks.”
He added that such sustained interventions would help both Abia and Nigeria advance their commitments under the Paris Agreement and the Kyoto Protocol, while strengthening local resilience to the growing impacts of climate change.
The Commissioner concluded by reaffirming Abia State’s readiness to remain a strategic partner in national and international efforts to promote sustainable environmental practices.
“This project has shown what is possible when global partnerships meet local commitment,” he said. “Abia is ready to do more for the planet and for its people.”
Abia State Lauds EU-Funded Climate Programme, Calls for Expanded Partnership