Katsina State has been ranked as the top-performing state in Nigeria in the 2026 Subnational Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking (SCGPRR 3.0). This ranking, conducted by the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, assessed all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory. The evaluation examined states' climate governance systems, policy implementation, institutional arrangements, financing, project delivery, monitoring, transparency, and visibility of climate action.
The 2026 assessment, presented on Thursday, October 8, 2026, in Abuja, reflects Katsina's efforts to integrate climate action into development planning through the Katsina Green Growth Agenda (KAGGA) and the Katsina State Climate Change Policy and Plan of Action 2025–2030. This framework supports climate action in various sectors, including agriculture, water, energy, infrastructure, environment, and human development, while positioning the state to attract climate finance and green investment.
Key interventions in Katsina include land restoration, afforestation, the Katsina One Tree Initiative (KT1T), climate-smart agriculture, renewable energy, water resilience, urban greenery, ecosystem restoration, and green infrastructure. These initiatives target major environmental challenges such as desertification, land degradation, drought, flooding, and water stress, while creating opportunities in sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, employment, carbon markets, and the wider green economy.
The ranking also recognised improvements in institutional coordination, technical capacity, stakeholder engagement, and climate planning in Katsina. These improvements have strengthened the state's ability to develop bankable projects and mobilise climate-related investment. The state's climate action has received recognition from organisations such as Nature Trust International and the Alliance for Renewable Energy in West Africa (AREWA).
In his acceptance speech, the Katsina state Acting Commissioner, Ministry of Environment and Special Adviser on Climate Change, Professor Mohammed A. Al-Amin, said Katsina's achievement showed that climate vulnerability could be addressed through strong institutions, commitment, and evidence-based implementation. He emphasised that the recognition had created greater responsibility to sustain the momentum, particularly through stronger climate data and monitoring, increased mobilisation of climate finance, greater private-sector participation, and improved transparency.
Professor Al-Amin commended the Ministry of Environment, the Climate Change Secretariat, other MDAs, and development partners for their contributions to advancing climate governance and environmental sustainability in the state. He highlighted the need for continued efforts to address environmental challenges and create opportunities for resilience, investment, and sustainable development.
The recognition of Katsina's climate action efforts is a significant milestone, demonstrating the state's commitment to addressing climate change and promoting sustainable development. The state's achievement serves as an example for other states in Nigeria to follow, and it is expected that the ranking will encourage healthy competition among states to improve their climate governance and sustainability performance.
Key points
- Katsina State's ranking is based on its progress in climate policy, institutional coordination, climate financing, project delivery, monitoring, and transparency.
- The state's climate action efforts have received recognition from organisations such as Nature Trust International and the Alliance for Renewable Energy in West Africa (AREWA).
- The ranking was conducted by the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment.
