By SN24.com 
By Peter Akpah.
Presidency Unveils SCRIPT Initiative to Boost Climate-Smart Agriculture for Plateau Farmers.
The Presidency has moved to ensure the Renewed Hope Climate Change Awareness Tour leaves tangible impact in Plateau State through the Sustainable Climate Resilience Initiative for People and Transformation,
Plateau State has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability as Governor Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang called on citizens, stakeholders, and all levels of government to intensify collective action against climate change during the Renewed Hope Climate Change Awareness Tour, REHCCAT 2026 Climate Townhall in Jos on Thursday.
Represented by his deputy, Ngo Josephine Piyo, Governor Mutfwang described the awareness tour as timely and commendable. He said the initiative is mobilizing citizens toward climate action and strengthening public understanding of environmental sustainability under the theme “Urbanization and Climate Change: Building Resilient Cities for a Sustainable Future.”
The Governor warned that climate change remains one of the most pressing global challenges, threatening ecosystems, livelihoods, infrastructure, food security, and public health, especially in developing nations. He stressed that for Plateau, environmental sustainability is not merely policy aspiration but a moral obligation.
“For us in Plateau State, environmental sustainability is not merely a policy aspiration; it is a moral obligation. Our state is endowed with unique ecological assets, fertile landscapes, rich biodiversity, and a climate that has historically distinguished Plateau as one of Nigeria’s most environmentally significant regions. Preserving these natural endowments for future generations remains a responsibility we take seriously,” Mutfwang stated.
He highlighted his administration’s achievements in environmental restoration, watershed protection, afforestation, sustainable agriculture, and ecosystem management. Through strategic partnerships and the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes, ACReSAL Project, the state is strengthening resilience against environmental degradation and climate-induced vulnerabilities.
Governor Mutfwang further emphasized the need for sustained investments in green infrastructure, renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, sustainable transportation, effective waste management, and nature-based solutions that enhance community resilience and promote sustainable development.
Commissioner for Environment, Climate Change and Mineral Development, Hon. Peter Kanang Gwom, said Plateau has chosen strategy over reaction in tackling climate change. He noted that the administration has integrated climate governance into its development agenda through the Plateau State Climate Assembly, a Climate Change Policy and Action Plan, and a Climate Council to coordinate interventions.
Gwom disclosed that over 2,000 hectares of woodlots have been established across the state’s three senatorial zones to combat deforestation and promote carbon sequestration. He also announced plans for the maiden Plateau Climate Week to attract investors and position the state as Nigeria’s next frontier for climate investment.
Presidential aides Ibrahim Shelleng, Senior Special Assistant on Climate Finance, and Yusuf Olatunji Kelani, Special Assistant on Climate Change, commended Plateau’s proactive steps. Shelleng said the Presidency’s SCRIPT initiative will deliver climate-smart agriculture support, improved seeds, and funding for rural farmers to ensure food security under the Renewed Hope Agenda, with stringent audit systems through development partners.
Ibrahim Shelleng, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Climate Finance and Stakeholder Engagement, said the program was designed to deliver lasting solutions beyond awareness campaign, Shelleng said the Presidency has moved to ensure the Renewed Hope Climate Change Awareness Tour leaves tangible impact in Plateau State through the Sustainable Climate Resilience Initiative for People and Transformation, SCRIPT.
Speaking at the REHCCAT 2026 Climate Townhall in Jos, Shelleng explained that SCRIPT is anchored on climate-smart agriculture. Developed in conjunction with development partners, the initiative will equip Plateau farmers with improved seeds, upgraded farming systems, and better processes to enhance productivity and food security. He stressed that the goal is to strengthen rural livelihoods and align with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for agriculture.
Yussuf Olatunji Kelani, Special Assistant to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Climate Change, disclosed this at the REHCCAT 2026 Climate Townhall in Jos on Thursday. He said the national launch held on March 3rd, 2026 at the Presidential Banquet Hall, Abuja, was followed by the decision to take the campaign to states within the North-Central geopolitical zone.
Kelani explained that Plateau was prioritized because of its proximity to Abuja and the severity of climate-induced challenges in the state. He stressed that many citizens remain unaware that drought, desertification, and scarcity of water and grazing land are fueling farmer-herder conflicts and other security issues.
The presidential aide noted that discussing climate change only at international conferences and in Abuja would not solve the problem. He said the tour is designed to take the conversation directly to communities so people can understand that environmental stress is a major driver of insecurity and find adaptive solutions.
After Plateau, the team will proceed to two other states in the zone to deepen awareness and promote climate resilience at the grassroots level.
Kelani noted Plateau was chosen first for the subnational REHCCAT tour due to its unique climate challenges linked to insecurity. He praised the creation of the Plateau State Climate Assembly as a model for other states, saying it brings the discourse to the grassroots. The event ended with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on climate action and the presentation of Plateau’s climate policy document to the REHCCAT team, with delegates agreeing that collective action remains the surest path to a resilient and sustainable future.