‎FG Pushes Green Economy Agenda as Climate Change Costs Nigeria $100bn

‎The Federal Government has emphasized that environmental sustainability must be treated as a critical national development priority, warning that climate-related challenges are increasingly threatening public health, food security, energy stability, and economic growth.
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‎This position was reiterated at the 2026 Nigeria Environmental Summit (NESt) held yesterday in Abuja, where government officials, development partners, investors, researchers, civil society groups, and youth innovators gathered to chart a collective path toward addressing the country’s environmental challenges.
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‎Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Salihu Usman, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to advancing environmental governance and unlocking opportunities within Nigeria’s green economy.
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According to AIT, ‎Usman pledged that recommendations emerging from the summit would not remain on paper but would be translated into concrete actions capable of delivering measurable and sustainable results.
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‎The summit, themed “Unlocking Nigeria’s Green Economy: Driving Climate Action and Environmental Governance,” focused on developing practical solutions to environmental threats that are increasingly affecting communities across the country.
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‎For many Nigerians, the effects of climate change are already evident. Farmers are grappling with prolonged droughts and declining crop yields, families are being displaced by recurring floods, and coastal communities continue to lose land to erosion. Stakeholders noted that these environmental realities are becoming more frequent, severe, and costly.
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‎Addressing participants, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, Uju Rochas-Anwukah, highlighted the economic impact of climate change, stating that Nigeria loses an estimated $100 billion annually to climate-related challenges.
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‎She stressed that meaningful progress would require commitments from all levels of government, backed by clear targets, accountability mechanisms, and implementation timelines.
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‎Participants at the summit acknowledged that while Nigeria faces growing threats from flooding, desertification, biodiversity loss, and other environmental concerns, these challenges also present significant opportunities for green investment, innovation, renewable energy development, and job creation.
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