Abuja: The Federal Government is accelerating efforts to attract private and international capital to unlock green finance opportunities for environmental sustainability. Malam Balarabe Lawal, the Minister of Environment, announced this during the 2026 Nigeria Environmental Summit (NESt) held in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Lawal, represented by Dr. Salihu Usman, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, emphasized the necessity of a green transition for building resilient societies. He highlighted the importance of unlocking green finance opportunities through climate funds, carbon markets, public-private partnerships, and blended finance models to support sustainable development. Lawal underscored the urgency of accelerating Nigeria’s green transition while enhancing climate action and environmental governance to secure a sustainable future.
Nigeria is at a pivotal moment in its environmental journey, as climate change increasingly manifests through flooding, drought, coastal erosion, biodiv
ersity loss, and growing pressure on ecosystems and livelihoods, Lawal noted. He stressed that environmental sustainability is intricately linked to health systems, food security, energy transition, economic diversification, job creation, and national security. Despite Nigeria’s leadership in adhering to the Paris Agreement and sustainable goals, achieving this vision requires localized innovations, partnerships, technology, and sustainable financing.
Lawal commended stakeholders in the environmental sector for their contributions to unlocking Nigeria’s green economy and fostering a resilient, inclusive, and sustainable future. Dr. Mya Ngon, Cluster Lead Disease Control, World Health Organisation (WHO) Nigeria, emphasized WHO’s focus on placing health at the forefront of climate and environmental decisions. She noted that a 2024 assessment revealed that 21 percent of Nigeria’s disease burden stems from climate change, urging the unlocking of the Nigerian green economy’s full potential for a healthier populac
e.
Dr. Olumide Adepoju, Director-General of the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA), acknowledged Nigeria’s diverse ecological zones and the opportunities within the challenges posed by rapid ecological change. He advocated for sustainable environmental governance to transform ecological risks into valuable green assets.
Mrs. Rita Michael-Ojo, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Environmental Summit Group, highlighted Nigeria’s abundant environmental and natural capital despite the increasing climate risks like flooding, desertification, biodiversity loss, and pollution. She called for modern conversations, collective leadership, innovative solutions, strategic investments, and sustained action to address these challenges. This year’s summit theme, “Unlocking Nigeria’s Green Economy, Driving Climate Action, and Strengthening Environmental Governance,” marks a defining moment in the nation’s history.
Michael-Ojo urged all stakeholders to collaboratively build a greener, healthier, and mo
re resilient Nigeria, recognizing that no single institution, sector, or individual can tackle these challenges alone. Ms. Muriel Mafico, Resident Representative of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), expressed concern over the increased risks faced by women and girls when communities are displaced by climate-related disasters. She emphasized the need for people-centered and gender-responsive climate action.
Mrs. Uju Rochas-Anwukah, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Health, highlighted the economic impact of climate change, estimating a loss of one billion dollars annually for Nigeria. She assured that the federal government is committed to addressing every environmental challenge in the country to ensure sustainability.