Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Abia State has emerged as one of the leading states in climate change preparedness under the Nigerian Sustainability Financing Programme, a development that positions the state to access climate finance and attract green investments.
The National Team Lead of the Partnership for Agile Governance and Climate Engagement (PACE), Ifeanyi Ugwuoke, disclosed this on Wednesday during a meeting with the Governor of Abia State, Alex Otti, in his office in Umuahia.
Ugwuoke explained that within eight months, beginning in July 2025, PACE conducted a Climate Finance Readiness Assessment for the state to evaluate its institutional structures and existing systems.
According to him, the exercise identified key external bottlenecks and produced a reform action plan already agreed upon by the state government and the organisation to strengthen Abia’s access to climate financing.
He added that PACE also provided technical support for the review and finalisation of the Abia Development Plan before its official launch.
Ugwuoke further revealed that the Abia Climate Change Policy is about 99 per cent complete and is currently undergoing final review ahead of its formal adoption by the state government.
He noted that as part of private sector engagement under the programme, four companies from Abia participated alongside firms from Kano and Kaduna states, describing the Abia delegation as one of the most outstanding during the sessions.
According to him, PACE also facilitated connections between Abia-based businesses and potential investors through the Nigeria Sustainable Finance platform.
Ugwuoke disclosed that Abia’s validated investment pipeline includes projects in energy, transport and sustainable infrastructure, including gas and solar energy initiatives.
He also identified the modernisation of Abia Line transport services, clean energy transportation projects, solar micro-grids, waste-to-wealth ventures and a low-carbon geopolymer cement project valued at between $40 million and $60 million.
Ugwuoke urged the state government to establish a Climate Resilient Fund within the next 60 to 90 days to strengthen investor confidence and support technical advisory services, assuring that PACE would continue to provide guidance.
Responding, Governor Otti commended PACE for its intervention and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to sustainable development and climate-friendly policies.
While acknowledging global concerns about climate change, the governor argued that developing regions that contribute minimally to global emissions should not bear a disproportionate responsibility for the crisis.
Otti noted that Abia had already taken proactive steps toward cleaner energy and sustainable transport, including the introduction of electric buses under the state’s ongoing transport reform programme.
According to him, the electric buses operated free of charge between December 2025 and March 2026 before fares were introduced, adding that the battery-powered vehicles have proven cheaper to maintain than conventional internal combustion engine buses.
The governor also said the state government had invested significantly in solar-powered street lighting and was exploring alternative energy solutions to strengthen electricity supply across the state.
He reiterated his administration’s commitment to supporting local businesses and positioning Abia as a destination for climate finance and green growth.
Some beneficiaries of the PACE-facilitated support initiative, including the Chairman of Vostok Meridian Limited, Sunny Alison, and the founder of Hemeko Renewable Solutions, Hemenandu Nwachukwu, commended the governor for creating an enabling environment for investment in the state.
Alison disclosed plans to invest in transportation and logistics, including support for the proposed airport project, cargo operations and integrated multimodal transport systems linking road, rail, air and sea routes.
He said the company would introduce modern and environmentally friendly transport solutions to support the state’s development vision.
On his part, Nwachukwu revealed that through the PACE-facilitated climate finance readiness programme, his firm gained exposure to funding opportunities under global and domestic climate finance frameworks.
He said his company was among the selected participants at the Nigerian Sustainable Finance Initiative Summit held recently in Lagos, where stakeholders were briefed on climate funding windows and green investment opportunities.
According to him, the technology developed by his company has been validated by Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic, Aba, with the support of the Abia State Government.
