Cross River State government seeks investment for land degradation projects at COP17

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Delegates from Nigeria’s Cross River State, including Martins Achadu and Catherine Ubi, utilized the UNCCD COP17 in Ulaanbaatar to solicit $25 million in international funding for the 'Cross River Restore Hope Initiative.' The state sought this investment to mitigate severe land degradation, flooding, and landslides that occurred between July and August 2026. During the summit, the delegation met with Nigerian Minister of Environment Balarabe Lawal, who pledged federal cooperation while demanding stricter local enforcement against illegal logging. The state delegation also held discussions with the Climate Investment Fund to address environmental policy gaps and secure resources for ecological restoration.

Consequences

The Cross River State government may face increased pressure from the federal government to implement and enforce anti-logging legislation as a prerequisite for receiving federal environmental support. The state’s ability to secure the requested $25 million will depend on its success in leveraging the COP17 platform to attract international development partners for its proposed restoration projects.

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