The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to attract private and international investments aimed at unlocking green finance opportunities to support environmental sustainability and climate resilience across the country.
Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, disclosed this at the 2026 Nigeria Environmental Summit (NESt) held in Abuja, stressing that Nigeria must accelerate its transition to a green economy while strengthening climate action and environmental governance.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr Salihu Usman, the minister said green financing mechanisms such as climate funds, carbon markets, public-private partnerships, and blended finance models were critical to achieving sustainable development goals.
According to him, Nigeria is facing mounting environmental challenges, including flooding, drought, coastal erosion, biodiversity loss, and increasing pressure on ecosystems and livelihoods, making the transition to a greener economy more urgent.
“Environmental sustainability is no longer a standalone issue. It is directly linked to public health, food security, energy transition, economic diversification, job creation, and national security,” Lawal said.
He noted that Nigeria had continued to demonstrate commitment to global climate goals through its obligations under the Paris Agreement and other international sustainability frameworks.
The minister, however, stressed that achieving these objectives would require innovation, technology, strategic partnerships, and sustainable financing, adding that traditional environmental management and funding approaches were no longer sufficient to address emerging challenges.
Lawal commended stakeholders in the environmental sector for their efforts toward unlocking the country’s green economy and building a more resilient and inclusive future.
Speaking at the summit, Dr Mya Ngon, Cluster Lead for Disease Control at the World Health Organisation (WHO) Nigeria, underscored the health implications of climate change, revealing that climate-related factors account for about 21 per cent of Nigeria’s disease burden.
She said the WHO remained committed to placing health considerations at the centre of climate and environmental policies, urging stakeholders to harness the potential of the green economy to improve public health outcomes.
Also speaking, Dr Olumide Adepoju, Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), described Nigeria’s diverse ecological landscape as both a challenge and an opportunity.
He said modern technologies and sustainable environmental governance could help transform ecological risks into valuable green assets while creating opportunities for future generations.
Earlier, Mrs Rita Michael-Ojo, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Environmental Summit Group, said the country’s rich environmental and natural resources were increasingly threatened by climate-related risks such as flooding, desertification, pollution, and biodiversity loss.
She noted that the theme of this year’s summit, “Unlocking Nigeria’s Green Economy, Driving Climate Action and Strengthening Environmental Governance,” reflected the urgency of addressing environmental challenges through collective action.
Michael-Ojo called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, private investors, development partners, communities, and civil society organisations to advance climate action and environmental sustainability.
She explained that discussions at the summit would focus on accelerating climate action, mobilising sustainable finance, promoting climate-resilient health systems, supporting a just energy transition, and expanding opportunities within Nigeria’s green economy.
The summit brought together policymakers, investors, development partners, academics, environmental experts, youth innovators, and community leaders to explore practical solutions for sustainable environmental management.
Meanwhile, Ms Muriel Mafico, Resident Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), highlighted the disproportionate impact of climate-related disasters on women and girls, warning that displacement often exposes them to heightened risks of gender-based violence, child marriage, exploitation, and disruption of reproductive health services.
She stressed the need for climate policies to be people-centred and gender-responsive.
On her part, Mrs Uju Rochas-Anwukah, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, said climate change was costing Nigeria an estimated one billion dollars annually in economic losses.
She reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to tackling environmental challenges and advancing policies that promote sustainability and climate resilience nationwide.
Comments (0)
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!