The federal government has called for stronger partnerships and greater private-sector investment to bridge Nigeria’s climate adaptation financing gap, warning that government resources alone cannot provide the resilience needed to protect communities, infrastructure and the economy from the mounting effects of climate change.
The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, made the call in Abuja at the weekend 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,” was convened to deepen understanding of the adaptation plan and explore investment opportunities capable of moving it from policy to implementation.
Represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Salihu Usman, Lawal said Nigeria remained committed to global climate action while ensuring that climate policies supported the country’s broader development priorities.
He said the government had put in place several policy and regulatory instruments aimed at building a climate-resilient, low-carbon economy.
Among them are the Climate Change Act, Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0), National Adaptation Plan, Energy Transition Plan, National Clean Cooking Policy and National Carbon Market Activation Framework.
According to the minister, the NAP represents a significant step in Nigeria’s response to climate change because it provides a framework for identifying climate risks, reducing vulnerabilities and integrating adaptation into national, sectoral and subnational development planning.
The plan sets priorities across key areas including agriculture, water resources, health, infrastructure, energy, biodiversity, forestry, disaster risk management and human settlements.
But Lawal said the breadth and urgency of Nigeria’s adaptation needs meant that government could not shoulder the responsibility alone.
He identified innovative financing, technology transfer, stronger institutions and sustained investment as essential to turning climate adaptation priorities into practical interventions.
“Adaptation requires us to mainstream climate risk into every aspect of development planning and decision-making,” he said.
Private sector seen as critical driver
The minister said the private sector had an increasingly important role to play in financing and delivering climate-resilient development, particularly through investment in technology, infrastructure and resilient business models.
He assured investors that the federal government was committed to creating an enabling environment for climate-related investments through policy reforms, institutional coordination and partnerships designed to reduce risks and encourage innovation.
Lawal said the Abuja engagement provided an opportunity for stakeholders to better understand the NAP, identify areas where partnerships could be developed and mobilise the resources required to implement its priorities.
He urged participants to move beyond broad commitments and develop practical, bankable adaptation programmes capable of attracting investment and delivering measurable outcomes.
“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.
Adaptation becoming business imperative
The ministry also emphasised that implementation of the NAP would require cooperation extending well beyond government institutions.
The Permanent Secretary, represented at the event by the Director of Climate Change, Dr. Iniagbon Abiola-Awe, said successful implementation would depend on broad-based partnerships involving development partners, financial institutions, businesses, research organisations, civil society groups and local communities.
He acknowledged the contribution of development partners to Nigeria’s climate agenda, particularly in strengthening institutions, building technical capacity, improving climate governance and supporting access to international climate finance.
He said the ministry was prepared to deepen those partnerships as the country moves towards implementation of the adaptation plan.
Particular emphasis was placed on the private sector’s capacity to mobilise capital and develop solutions that can withstand the effects of climate change.
According to the ministry, businesses can contribute through climate-resilient technologies, stronger value chains, expanded climate insurance, resilient infrastructure and 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,” Usman said.
The position reflects a growing recognition that climate adaptation is not only about responding to environmental threats but also about protecting investments, maintaining productive economic activity and reducing future losses.
In her welcome address, Abiola-Awe said the engagement was designed to take the conversation around the NAP beyond policy formulation by presenting its strategic priorities and investment opportunities to potential partners.
She said the workshop would provide a platform for stakeholders to identify areas for collaboration, strengthen coordination and mobilise the resources necessary to improve the resilience of Nigerians, ecosystems and the national economy.
She urged participants to contribute practical experiences and recommendations that could strengthen implementation and ensure that the adaptation plan produces tangible outcomes.
The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) also reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria’s implementation of the NAP.
The organisation’s Chief of Mission, Sharon Dimanche, represented by Hajara Jalo, said climate action must ultimately translate into stronger and safer communities.
Dimanche described the engagement as an opportunity to deepen collaboration, identify areas for partnership and develop mechanisms capable of converting the NAP’s objectives into lasting benefits for communities across the country.
Participants at the engagement included representatives of government agencies, private companies, financial institutions, academic and research organisations, civil society groups and international development partners.
Among the development organisations represented were the IOM, World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).
The discussions underscore the government’s growing focus on mobilising capital for climate adaptation, as Nigeria seeks to ensure that its national response is not left at the level of policy commitments but translated into investments that can protect livelihoods, infrastructure, ecosystems and economic activity from escalating climate risks.
