2025 State-By-State Climate Governance Profiling

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2025 State-By-State Climate Governance Profiling

Detailed Analysis of Nigeria’s 36 States

Background

The imperative for effective subnational climate governance has gained momentum globally. Central to this growing momentum is the recognition that subnational actors are the primary bearers of climate change impacts; they also constitute the critical level at which policies and interventions can deliver the most tangible and lasting outcomes.

Launched in 2024, with the support of the European Climate Foundation (ECF), the Subnational Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking (SCGPRR) of Nigeria’s 36 states showcases the state-of-the-art, progress, potential, opportunities and gaps in the governance of climate change across the 36 states of Nigeria.

A joint initiative of the Society for Planet and Prosperity and the Department of Climate Change (DCC) at the Federal Ministry of Environment, the project has sparked healthy debates, catalysed increased climate action among state actors, and generated unprecedented awareness across states of the need for climate action.

This 2025/second edition—the only single rating and ranking report of Nigeria’s 36 states—demonstrates SPP’s commitment to improving climate governance, accelerating project implementation, increasing climate action and attracting investment to achieve sustainable development.

Project Objectives

The main goals and objectives of the second edition of the Subnational Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking are to:

Increase awareness of subnational climate efforts across Nigeria's 36 states
Showcase and reward the efforts of the top performers, while motivating lower-ranking states to enhance their climate actions
Catalyse accelerated subnational climate action across Nigerian states by inspiring healthy competition among states
Provide stronger data and information for national and international climate reporting, in alignment with national/global targets and commitments
Strengthen the platform for collaboration among subnational stakeholders by bringing together directors of climate change directorates, and state commissioners to discuss and compare climate performance across states
Provide policymakers, development partners, and other stakeholders with practical insights to promote strong collaboration, support informed decision-making, and identify entry points for funding and targeted interventions

Survey Approach and Scoring Framework

SCGPRR 2.0 adopted a transparent, multi-layered, and participatory approach to evaluate climate governance across Nigeria’s 36 states. A standardized online questionnaire and scoring system focused on six thematic areas with weighted indicators.

Total Maximum Score Points from weighted survey responses: 365 Points

Thematic AreaMaximum ScorePercentage
i. Institutional Arrangements & Administrative Structure14038.4%
ii. Policies & Action Plans6016.4%
iii. Finance & Budgeting6016.4%
iv. Implementation, Monitoring & Projects5515.1%
v. Awareness & Online Visibility5013.7%
TOTAL365100%

Each indicator has a number of questions under it with responses scored on scales, weighted by importance and then normalized to ensure fair comparison between states. These scores are combined into a composite index with five rating levels: Outstanding, High, Good, Average, and Low.

Performance Rating Categories

RatingScore RangePerformance Description
Outstanding300-365Exceptional climate governance with comprehensive frameworks and strong delivery
High250-299Strong climate action with good institutional capacity and implementation
Good170-249Satisfactory progress with functional governance but gaps remain
Average100-169Moderate performance with significant capacity building needs
Low0-99Critical gaps requiring comprehensive governance reconstruction

Key Findings & Results Overview

Performance Distribution

RatingScore RangeNumber of States% of Total
Outstanding300-36538.3%
High250-299411.1%
Good170-2491747.2%
Average100-1691027.8%
Low0-9925.6%

The SCGPRR (States’ Climate Governance Scorecard) 2.0 results have shown progress, leadership gaps, and opportunities for scaling subnational climate action. It has truly resulted in healthy competition among state actors, and provides a clearer governance pathway and strategy for subnational governments to accelerate climate action and attract desired investments.

Overall Rankings – Top 10 States

2025 RankStateTotal ScoreRating2024 RankChange
1Lagos315/365Outstanding1→
2Katsina310/365Outstanding25↑ +23
3Kaduna300/365Outstanding16↑ +13
4Kano280/365High35↑ +31
5Enugu270/365High18↑ +13
6Osun265/365High30↑ +24
7Oyo250/365High34↑ +27
8Benue240/365Good27↑ +19
8Borno240/365Good4↓ -4
8Cross River240/365Good23↑ +15

Bottom 10 States

2025 RankStateTotal ScoreRating2024 RankChange
27Ekiti160/365Average4↓ -21
28Abia155/365Average8↓ -20
28Akwa Ibom155/365Average25↓ -3
30Plateau150/365Average27↓ -3
31Kogi145/365Average20↓ -11
31Jigawa145/365Average33↑ +2
33Adamawa125/365Average15↓ -18
34Ogun120/365Average9↓ -25
35Rivers90/365Low29↓ -6
36Zamfara70/365Low36→

Major Improvements (Top 5)

1. Kano: +31 positions (35th → 4th) | +235 points
2. Oyo: +27 positions (34th → 7th) | +204 points
3. Osun: +24 positions (30th → 6th) | +208 points
4. Katsina: +23 positions (25th → 2nd) | +246 points
5. Benue: +19 positions (27th → 8th) | +180 points

Worst Declines (Top 5)

1. Ogun: -25 positions (9th → 34th) | Only +16 points - WORST DECLINE
2. Ekiti: -21 positions (4th → 27th) | +45 points
3. Abia: -20 positions (8th → 28th) | +49 points
4. Adamawa: -18 positions (15th → 33rd) | +27 points
5. Gombe: -16 positions (2nd → 18th) | +57 points
States with Perfect/Top Scores in Specific Areas

States with Perfect/Top Scores in Specific Areas

Institutional Arrangements (140 max):

  • Kaduna: 120/140 (Perfect Score – Only State)
  • Katsina: 110/140
  • Benue: 110/140

Policies & Action Plans (60 max):

  • Enugu: 55/60 (Highest Score)
  • 8 other states: 50/60

Finance & Budgeting (60 max):

  • Lagos: 60/60 (Perfect)
  • Katsina: 60/60 (Perfect)

Implementation & Monitoring (55 max):

  • 12 states achieved perfect score: Lagos, Katsina, Kano, Abia, Enugu, Osun, Cross River, Kwara, Borno, Gombe, Akwa Ibom, Kaduna

Online Visibility (50 max):

  • Lagos: 50/50 (Perfect)
  • Kaduna: 50/50 (Perfect)
  • Oyo: 50/50 (Perfect)
  • Borno: 50/50 (Perfect)

 

States with Zero Policy Scores (Critical Failure)

Four states have ZERO policy scores (0/60):

  1. Niger – Despite having Commissioner and green bond provisions
  2. Akwa Ibom – Despite oil revenues
  3. Ogun – Despite economic capacity and South West location
  4. Zamfara – Compounded by security crisis

 

States with Climate Change Commissioners (6 States)

Only six states have explicitly mainstreamed “Climate Change” in the portfolio title:

  1. Kano
  2. Enugu
  3. Benue
  4. Niger
  5. Plateau
  6. Taraba

States with Legal Framework (2 States)

Only two states have climate change legal framework:

  1. Enugu – Environmental and Climate Protection Law
  2. Cross River – Climate Change Bill passed and signed

Note: Ebonyi and Rivers passed Bills through State Assembly but Governors did not sign before expiration of Assembly tenure.

 

Green Bond Status

Implemented (2 states):

  • Lagos
  • Katsina

Provisioned but Not Implemented (6 states):

  • Niger
  • Gombe
  • Cross River
  • Kaduna
  • Oyo

Sokoto

Overall Performance Ranking – All 36 States

Complete Rankings Table

2025 RankStateTotal ScoreRating2024 RankChangeInstitutionalPolicyFinanceImplementationVisibility
1Lagos315Outstanding1→10050605550
2Katsina310Outstanding25↑+2311050605535
3Kaduna300Outstanding16↑+1312040504050
4Kano280High35↑+319050405545
5Enugu270High18↑+138555404545
6Osun265High30↑+248550404545
7Oyo250High34↑+278540403550
8Benue240Good27↑+1911020403535
8Borno240Good4↓-48030404050
8Cross River240Good23↑+157030504545
11Sokoto225Good17↑+65550403545
11Delta225Good12↓-18550302535
13Bauchi220Good21↑+89530303035
13Kebbi220Good31↑+187530403045
15Ebonyi205Good3↓-125550403030
16Kwara190Good10↓-67520304025
16Anambra190Good11↓-56520303045
18Edo185Good6↓-128510302535
18Niger185Good6↓-12850502525
18Gombe185Good2↓-164520504030
21Yobe175Good12↓-96540302515
21Nasarawa175Good32↑+115540402515
23Imo170Good24↑+15530401530
23Bayelsa170Good12↓-116010303040
25Ondo160Average22↓-34020403525
25Taraba160Average18↓-7505040155
25Ekiti160Average4↓-216010402525
28Abia155Average8↓-20601530455
28Akwa Ibom155Average25↓-3400404035
30Plateau150Average27↓-35020302030
31Kogi145Average20↓-116510301525
31Jigawa145Average33↑+24520402515
33Adamawa125Average15↓-183520302020
34Ogun120Average9↓-25300303030
35Rivers90Low29↓-625030305
36Zamfara70Low36→15030205

Zone-Level Analysis

State Climate Governance: Summary Of State Profiles by Performance Tier

S/NSTATEView Profile
1Abia StateView Profile >>
2Adamawa StateView Profile >>
3Akwa Ibom StateView profile >>
4Anambra StateView profile >>
5Bauchi StateView profile >>
6Bayelsa StateView profile >>
7Benue StateView profile >>
8Borno StateView profile >>
9Cross River StateView profile >>
10Delta StateView profile >>
11Ebonyi StateView profile >>
12Edo StateView pofile >>
13Ekiti StateView profile >>
14Enugu StateView profile >>
15Federal Capital TerritoryView profile >>
16Gombe StateView profile >>
17Imo StateView profile >>
18Jigawa StateView profile >>
19Kaduna StateView profile >>
20Kano StateView profile >>
21Katsina StateView profile >>
22Kebbi StateView profile >>
23Kogi StateView profile >>
24Kwara StateView profile >>
25Lagos StateView profile >>
26Nasarawa StateView profile >>
27Niger StateView profile >>
28Ogun StateView profile >>
29Ondo StateView profile >>
30Osun StateView profile >>
31Oyo StateView profile >>
32Plateau StateView profile >>
33Rivers StateView profile >>
34Sokoto StateView profile >>
35Taraba StateView profile >>
36Yobe StateView profile >>
37Zamfara StateView profile >>

Click State to view Profile