By Abdullahi Lukman
The Lagos State Government has announced a N2.5 million prize for residents who successfully nurture and maintain trees under a new environmental initiative aimed at promoting sustainability and combating rising urban temperatures.
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Olalekan Rotimi-Akodu, disclosed the initiative during the 2026 World Environment Day celebration held at Johnson Jakande Tinubu Park in Ikeja on Friday.
The programme, tagged “Me and My Tree,” will provide free seedlings to participants, with the owner of the best-maintained tree after one year receiving the cash reward.
As part of activities marking the global event, the state government also pledged to plant 500 trees across Lagos to encourage greener communities and strengthen climate resilience.
The announcement follows the inclusion of Lagos among 50 cities identified by the United Nations as being at risk of experiencing extreme temperatures of up to 50 degrees Celsius.
In response, the state has adopted the theme, “50 Cities at 50°C: Lagos Rising Against the Urban Heat Island,” aligning its climate adaptation efforts with international strategies.
Rotimi-Akodu said Lagos would join other cities worldwide in signing a pledge under the United Nations Environment Programme’s 50 Cities at 50°C initiative, which seeks to address the growing threat of extreme urban heat.
He noted that climate change, rapid urbanisation and population growth continue to increase pressure on cities through rising greenhouse gas emissions, shrinking vegetation cover and higher temperatures.
According to him, Lagos remains particularly vulnerable to climate-related threats, including flooding, sea-level rise and extreme heat.
The adviser highlighted several measures already being implemented by the state government, including investments in Bus Rapid Transit services, rail systems and water transportation to reduce traffic congestion and carbon emissions.
He also revealed that more than seven million trees have been planted across the state since 2009 through the efforts of government agencies, schools, communities and private organisations.
Rotimi-Akodu further disclosed that Lagos has developed a Health Adaptation Plan for 2026–2030 to strengthen the healthcare sector’s resilience to climate-related risks through improved disease surveillance and healthcare access.
Speaking virtually at the event, the Global Chief Heat Officer for the United Nations Environment Programme, UN-Habitat and the Atlantic Council’s Climate Resilience Centre, Dr. Eleni Myrivili, described extreme heat as one of the most pressing urban challenges globally.
She urged cities identified under the 50@50 initiative to take proactive measures tailored to their local realities.
Also speaking, Assistant Chief Meteorologist at the Nigerian Meteorological Agency, Benson Levi, warned that temperatures in Lagos have continued to rise despite ongoing environmental interventions.
Citing climate data from 1991 to 2025, he said the city’s minimum average temperatures have shown a consistent upward trend, underscoring the growing impact of climate change on Nigeria’s commercial capital.
