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By Daniel Adaji
The Federal Government has intensified efforts to end bush burning in Nigeria’s agricultural sector, urging farmers to adopt climate-smart farming practices that protect soil health, improve yields and reduce harmful emissions.
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Marcus Ogunbiyi, disclosed this at the close-out workshop of the Abatement of Short-Lived Climate Pollutants (SLCP) in the Nigerian Agricultural Sector project, held recently in Abuja.
Speaking at the event, Ogunbiyi said the government is deliberately moving away from traditional burning practices as part of a broader push to modernise agriculture, safeguard the environment and strengthen food security across the country.
He noted that the workshop, held under the theme “Local Action, National Impact: Building Resilience through Climate-Smart Agriculture,” was more than the end of a project cycle.
He stated that it “was not merely the conclusion of a project cycle, rather marks an important milestone in Nigeria’s collective effort to confront climate change through practical, farmer-centered, and scalable agricultural solution-particularly in reducing short-lived climate pollutants that pose immediate risks to the environment, health, and food systems.”
According to the Permanent Secretary, the SLCP project demonstrates how collaboration can translate climate commitments into real impact at the grassroots.
“This project, implemented by Self Help Africa in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, with funding support from the Climate and Clean Air Coalition, CCAC, exemplifies the power of strategic partnerships in translating global climate commitments into local action,” he said.
Ogunbiyi also anchored the initiative within Nigeria’s legal and policy framework, pointing to the Climate Change Act of 2021 as a guiding instrument for sustainable development.
He stated that the Act “provides a clear legal and institutional framework for achieving low greenhouse gas emissions, climate-resilient development, and sustainable economic growth.”
Within this framework, he said agriculture occupies a critical position because it is both highly vulnerable to climate impacts and a major source of emissions.
“Within this framework, agriculture occupies a strategic position, as it is both highly vulnerable to climate impacts and a significant source of methane and black carbon emissions,” he said.
He added that Nigeria’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) clearly identify agriculture as a priority sector for climate mitigation and adaptation.
“Nigeria’s updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) identify the agricultural sector as a priority for mitigation and adaptation-particularly through, reduction of methane emissions, improved residue management, and promotion of climate-smart agricultural practices.
“This SLCP Abatement Project directly supports these national priorities and contributes meaningfully to the NDC Implementation Roadmap,” Ogunbiyi said.
Explaining why the government is focusing on bush burning, the Permanent Secretary said short-lived climate pollutants such as black carbon and methane are among the most dangerous contributors to near-term global warming.
He stated that “the Short-lived climate pollutants-especially black carbon from open field burning, and methane from rice cultivation and livestock system are among the most potent contributors to near-term global warming.”
Although these pollutants remain in the atmosphere for a shorter period than carbon dioxide, he warned that their impact is far more intense.
“Although their lifespan in the atmosphere is relatively short, their warming impact is significantly higher than that of carbon dioxide, with serious consequences for air quality, human health, and agricultural sustainability,” he said.
Ogunbiyi stressed that tackling SLCPs presents a unique opportunity for Nigeria, where agriculture remains central to livelihoods and employment.
“For Nigeria-where agriculture remains central to livelihoods, employment, and food security- addressing Short-Lived Climate Pollutants presents a unique triple-win opportunity: to slow near-term climate warming,to improve air quality and public health, and to strengthen agricultural productivity and resilience.
“This project has convincingly demonstrated that climate mitigation, adaptation, and food security can be pursued simultaneously, not in isolation,” the PS noted.
He called on development partners to support the scale-up of such initiatives, encouraged financial institutions to develop products that support farmers adopting climate-smart practices, and urged extension agents and farmers to serve as ambassadors of no-burn agriculture. According to him, sustained collaboration will ensure that lessons from the project translate into lasting national impact.
Also speaking at the event, Director, Lands and Climate Change Management Services, Mr. Oshadiya Olanipekun, reiterated the dangers posed by short-lived climate pollutants.
He said the pollutants, which include methane and black carbon, pose serious threats to climate stability, air quality and public health.
“In Nigeria, where agriculture remains a major economic driver and a significant emissions source, addressing SLCPs offers a unique opportunity to reduce global warning, improve environment health and enhance agricultural productivity,” Olanipekun said.
The Country Representative of Self Help Africa, Mrs. Joy Aderele, said the project has strengthened agricultural extension systems, built farmers’ capacity and generated evidence to support policy formulation and national action.
The workshop attracted representatives of the Benue State Government, Oxfam, the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), the World Food Programme (WFP), the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC), the Ministry of Environment and other key stakeholders.