Nigeria Strengthens SLCP MRV Systems in Key Sectors with Support from the CCAC

Nigeria has taken a significant step toward improving the monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) of SLCPs through a national intervention supported by the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC). Implemented by the Stakeholder Democracy Network (SDN), the project is helping the country enhance its ability to track and reduce methane and black carbon in key sectors.

The initiative was designed to ensure that the MRV for SLCPs are operationalised in line with the institutional arrangements in Nigeria’s national MRV framework, which is essential for meeting international climate commitments and strengthening domestic air quality management. Although the project initially planned to work with four government institutions, strong interest from national stakeholders led to an expansion to sixteen Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). This expansion significantly broadened the project’s impact and ensured SLCP MRV improvements across major emitting sectors.

A needs-based approach was adopted by SDN to identify the most critical institutional and technical gaps covering SLCP data availability, emission estimation capacity, QA/QC processes, and cross-agency coordination, etc. The assessment produced a detailed SLCP MRV Needs Assessment Inventory, which shaped a targeted training programme for the participating MDAs.

The capacity-building programme focused on strengthening Nigeria’s ability to quantify SLCP emissions using IPCC Tier 1–3 methodologies, harmonise activity data across sectors, and improve institutional systems for monitoring and verification. The training also emphasised behavioural and organisational change to promote long-term ownership of MRV processes. Peer-learning sessions enabled advanced MDAs, such as the NUPRC and NEITT, to share experiences on methane tracking, digital reporting tools, and early steps toward adopting best-practice MRV frameworks and international CCAC guidance.

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Following the training, SDN conducted a structured follow-up with all participating MDAs to assess progress. The review found that most institutions had already begun implementing key recommendations, including establishing basic QA/QC procedures, improving internal data coordination, strengthening sectoral data templates, and initiating early data collection for SLCP activities. Several agencies also reported improvements in methane monitoring, the development of environmental statistics, and the integration of MRV considerations into policy and planning processes.

As a result of this intervention, Nigeria now has a significantly strengthened institutional capacity to implement SLCP MRV across major sectors, although further support is needed to ensure full operationalisation. The NCCC and participating MDAs have improved their technical understanding of emissions estimation, enhanced collaboration on SLCP reporting, and have taken early steps toward operationalising a national system for consistent monitoring, verification and data validation.

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The project demonstrates the importance of targeted support for countries working to reduce methane and other SLCP emissions. With additional assistance from the CCAC, Nigeria will be able to consolidate on the results achieved so far, extend MRV implementation to other sectors at the subnational level, digitise sectoral reporting systems, and further integrate SLCPs into national climate strategies, thus contributing to global efforts to reduce air pollution, mitigate near-term climate warming and other health-related impacts.