The  federal government on Tuesday says it is providing policies and initiatives aimed at implementing the Paris Agreement to address climate change and other environmental issues in the country.

Environment minister Mohammad Abubakar made this known at an event organised in conjunction with the French Embassy to mark the 5th Anniversary of the Paris Agreement in Abuja.

Mr. Abubakar said Abuja had put in place several policies and initiatives such as financing green projects across the nation in various sectors of the economy.

He said that the government was also engaging in afforestation programmes aimed at  establishment of forests or planting of trees in order to avoid degradation of land.

Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) were at the heart of the Paris Agreement and the achievement of many long-term goals, the minister said.

He noted that NDCs embodied efforts by each country to reduce national emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change.

Mr. Abubakar said that the anniversary would be focusing on the NDCs and policies being implemented, what had been achieved so far and what should be on the agenda for the next five years.

Jerome Pasquier, Ambassador of France in Nigeria, thanked the Federal Government on its effort in ensuring that NDCs were implemented through the policies and initiatives provided.

Mr. Pasquier said for Nigeria to engage in the elaborate anniversary, it meant that the government was committed in the implementation of NDCs and would  achieve its goals. 

NAN