Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to global climate action while seeking stronger partnerships and private-sector investment to build a climate-resilient economy.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, stated this in Abuja during a stakeholders’ engagement on the socialisation of Nigeria’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) for development partners and the private sector.
The engagement, themed “Mobilising Partnerships and Investments for Climate-Resilient Development through Nigeria’s National Adaptation Plan,” brought together representatives of government, development organisations, financial institutions, academia, civil society and the private sector.
Lawal, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Salihu Aminu Usman, said the Federal Government remained committed to balancing climate action with national development priorities.
He said Nigeria’s commitment was being demonstrated through strategic initiatives including the Climate Change Act, Nationally Determined Contribution 3.0 (NDC 3.0), National Adaptation Plan, Energy Transition Plan, National Clean Cooking Policy and National Carbon Market Activation Framework.
According to him, the initiatives are designed to advance Nigeria towards a climate-resilient and low-carbon future.
The minister described the National Adaptation Plan as one of the country’s most significant milestones in tackling the effects of climate change, saying it provides a comprehensive framework for identifying climate risks, reducing vulnerability, strengthening resilience and integrating adaptation into national, sectoral and subnational development planning.
He said the plan establishes priorities across critical sectors, including agriculture, water resources, health, infrastructure, energy, biodiversity, forestry, disaster-risk management and human settlements.
Lawal, however, warned that closing Nigeria’s adaptation gap would require more than government intervention, stressing the need for new partnerships, innovative financing mechanisms, technology transfer, stronger institutions and sustained investment.
He urged stakeholders to mainstream climate risks into every aspect of development planning and decision-making.
The minister acknowledged the contributions of development partners to Nigeria’s climate agenda, noting that their support had strengthened institutions, enhanced technical capacity, improved climate data and information systems, facilitated access to international climate finance and supported adaptation initiatives across the country.
He also assured potential investors that the Federal Government was committed to creating a more favourable environment for private-sector participation through policy reforms, institutional coordination and partnerships aimed at reducing investment risks and encouraging innovation.
Lawal said the stakeholders’ engagement provided an opportunity to deepen understanding of the NAP, identify partnership opportunities, strengthen coordination and mobilise the investment needed to move the plan from paper to implementation.
He challenged participants to develop practical solutions, bankable adaptation programmes and stronger institutional partnerships capable of delivering measurable impact.
“Together, let us build a future where every investment strengthens resilience, every partnership accelerates progress, and every Nigerian has the opportunity to thrive despite the challenges of a changing climate,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary, represented at the event by the Director of Climate Change, Dr. Iniagbon Abiola-Awe, said successful implementation of the NAP could not be achieved through government efforts alone.
He called for broad-based partnerships involving government institutions, development partners, private-sector operators, financial institutions, research organisations, civil society groups and local communities.
Usman said development partners had consistently assisted Nigeria in strengthening institutional capacity, improving climate governance, mobilising technical expertise and financing climate action.
He particularly highlighted the private sector’s role in driving innovation and mobilising the investment required to deliver climate-resilient development.
According to him, private-sector participation will be critical in developing climate-resilient technologies, strengthening resilient value chains, expanding climate insurance, financing resilient infrastructure and supporting nature-based solutions.
“Adaptation is no longer solely a public policy issue; it is increasingly a business imperative and an investment opportunity that can deliver economic, social and environmental returns,” he said.
Earlier, Abiola-Awe said the workshop was designed to deepen stakeholders’ understanding of the National Adaptation Plan, present its strategic priorities and investment opportunities and foster dialogue on accelerating its implementation.
She said the engagement would also strengthen coordination, identify areas of collaboration and mobilise resources required to translate the NAP into tangible actions capable of improving the resilience of Nigerians, ecosystems and the economy.
The Director urged participants to share experiences, identify opportunities for collaboration and develop practical recommendations to strengthen implementation of the plan.
In a goodwill message, the Chief of Mission of the International Organization for Migration (IOM), Sharon Dimanche, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to supporting the Nigerian Government in implementing the NAP.
Dimanche, represented by Hajara Jalo, said IOM was committed to ensuring that climate action contributed to stronger, safer and more resilient communities across Nigeria.
She described the engagement as an important platform for deepening collaboration, identifying opportunities and building partnerships required to translate the vision of the NAP into tangible and lasting results.
Participants at the engagement were drawn from the public and private sectors, financial institutions, academia, civil society organisations and development partners, including IOM, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
