Oyo State to Establish Climate Council Next Week

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde is scheduled to officially inaugurate the Oyo State Climate Council next week. The initiative is part of a broader administrative push to strengthen environmental governance and advance the state’s updated Climate Action Plan.

The upcoming inauguration represents a pivotal step in the state’s environmental sustainability agenda, according to a joint statement from the Ministry of Information and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

The newly formed council will function as the state’s premier advisory and policy-making body on climate matters. Its primary mandate includes directing mitigation and adaptation strategies while ensuring local policies align with international environmental commitments and Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions.

Alongside the council’s launch, environmental officials will initiate a technical review of the state’s existing Climate Action Plan. This process will bring together government ministries, environmental experts, academics, civil society organizations, and development partners for a structured stakeholder retreat.

The review will focus on assessing environmental vulnerabilities across all 33 local government areas in Oyo State. Key areas of evaluation include the impact of climate change on agriculture, forestry, water resources, and urban areas specifically targeting local challenges such as flooding, erosion, and rising heat stress.

Additionally, the technical sessions aim to establish an updated greenhouse gas inventory, outline low-carbon development pathways, and create frameworks to attract climate funding through carbon credits and public-private partnerships.

Officials expect the technical sessions to yield a fully revised Climate Action Plan by the end of August 2026, with high-priority environmental projects slated for immediate execution following formal validation.