Aleke Aleke in Abuja
UN Climate Change Executive Secretary, Simon Stiell has said that a strong new national climate plan would supercharge the Nigerian economy, building on the country’s climate leadership and economic progress.
A statement by National Information Officer, UN Information Centre (UNIC), Oluseyi Soremekun, said that the UN Climate Change
Executive Secretary, stated this while speaking at a symposium convened by Nigeria’s National Council on Climate Change Secretariat (NCCCS) at the Lekki Conservation Centre in Lagos.
Soremekun disclosed that during his four-day visit to Nigeria, Stiell met with senior government officials, civil society, and business leaders to discuss how ambitious climate action can drive forward the country’s economic growth and living standards.
Stiell emphasised that bold climate action is vital to avert the disastrous human and economic impacts of global heating, but also to seize vast human and economic benefits for Nigeria and its people.
He highlighted that USD$2 trillion was invested in clean energy and infrastructure in 2024 alone, and that Nigeria has huge opportunities to benefit from a national climate plan that promotes investment in clean energy, critical minerals, and domestic manufacturing.
The UN climate chief also stressed the importance of Nigeria’s vast mangrove forests, which act as a powerful natural defense against climate impacts.
With climate change already costing Nigeria up to 5% of its GDP, Stiell stated that investing in nature-based solutions like mangrove restoration is not just an environmental necessity but an economic opportunity that can pay for itself many times over.
