By Abbas Nazil
Germany has pledged nationwide support to Nigeria, beginning with Lagos, in embedding climate change adaptation into state development plans.
The commitment was announced by Mr. Johannes Lehne, the German Deputy Ambassador to Nigeria, during the Sub-National Dialogue on Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation into State Development Plans held in Lagos on September 24, 2025.
The event, organised by GIZ in partnership with the Lagos State Office of Climate Change and Circular Economy, focused on renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, and building institutional capacity.
Lehne praised Lagos for progress made in integrating sustainability into its policies, stressing that Germany would provide both technical expertise and financial assistance to expand these efforts.
He identified solar power, particularly photovoltaic systems for traffic management, homes, and government use, as a priority area of cooperation.
According to him, Germany has supported Nigeria for over 50 years across all regions, tailoring responses to local challenges ranging from desertification in the North to flooding in the South.
He described Nigeria as a key partner in Africa’s energy transition, highlighting federal initiatives such as the carbon market activation policy as a forward-looking measure that could boost economic resilience and attract green investments.
Dr. Markus Wagner, GIZ Country Director for Nigeria and ECOWAS, said climate change was already having devastating effects nationwide, stressing that adaptation was urgent to address risks like droughts, floods, and desertification.
He noted that while the Federal Government had made progress through national policies, states must align development frameworks and budgets with climate action to ensure concrete impact.
Representing Lagos, Mr. Sam Egube, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, emphasized that the state’s 30-year development plan integrates sustainability and warned that inaction could cost Lagos $26 billion.
He explained that proactive measures costing $8 billion could reduce vulnerabilities, citing initiatives such as mangrove restoration, tree planting, deep seaport development, food security projects, and the Eco-Omi Project deploying electric-powered water vessels.
Egube described Lagos as both vulnerable and strategic, urging partners to recognize it as a national asset due to its role as Nigeria’s economic hub and destination for climate migrants.
The two-day dialogue brought together state officials, international partners, and private sector representatives to design strategies for mainstreaming climate change adaptation and identifying pilot projects for implementation.
