By Olaitan Idris/Aderonke Ojediran
The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to sustainable growth and coastal resilience at the 11th Lagos International Climate Change Summit.
The Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said this at the opening ceremony of the summit on Thursday in Lagos.
The summit had the theme: “Blue Economy, Green Money: Financing Africa’s Coastal Resilience and Ocean Innovation.”
Sanwo-Olu said that Lagos, being a city built on water, energy and entrepreneurship, must ensure a sustainable future for its residents, while harnessing the power of its ocean resources.
“Lagos is a city built on water, energy, and entrepreneurship.
“Our responsibility is to ensure that this foundation remains sustainable for generations to come,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He said his administration was deliberate in creating blue finance, citing the Great Wall of Lagos as an example of how the state transformed a former ocean surge zone into prime land.
“With the Great Wall of Lagos, we turned what was once a threat into an opportunity a place of economic value, safety, and growth. That is the spirit of innovation we are building on,” he added.
Sanwo-Olu reiterated that Lagos was committed to leading Africa and the global community in the pursuit of a clean climate and a vibrant blue economy, describing it as “a lifeline for the planet.”
“Lagos is committed to leading Africa and the global community in the pursuit of a clean climate and a vibrant blue economy, which remains a lifeline for the planet,” Sanwo-Olu said.
In his welcome address, the Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr Tokunbo Wahab, said the summit underscored the state’s determination to unlock sustainable financing and pioneer innovative solutions that safeguard the ocean and strengthen coastal communities.
“Lagos sees opportunity where others see risk, by transforming its blue economy into an engine of inclusive growth and environmental sustainability,” he said.
Wahab highlighted ongoing state-led initiatives, including the soon-to-be-commissioned biogas facility at the Ikosi-Isheri Fruit Market, in partnership with the C40 Global Leadership Group.
“The biogas project will convert fruit waste into clean energy for lighting, cooking, and phone charging, while also producing natural fertiliser for farmers,” he said.
Wahab added that the governor would unveil the Climate Investment Opportunities Diagnostic, a policy document linking environmental goals, with actionable investment pathways.
He noted that Lagos had been ranked the top-performing stare in climate government for the second consecutive year.
“We are ready for investment, ready for innovation, and ready to build resilience that benefits all our people,” he said.
He called for greater collaboration among African coastal cities, adding that Lagos was ready for investment, innovation, and to build resilience that benefits all its people.
The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Mr Gboyega Oyetola, said the Federal Government had implemented wide-ranging reforms to enhance security on Nigeria’s territorial waters and reduce piracy.
Oyetola was represented at the event by the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, Dr Dayo Mobereola.
He added that the ministry had advanced fiscal and legal frameworks, promoted waste-to-wealth initiatives, and partnered with stakeholders to finance the blue economy and drive maritime research.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that representatives of the governments of Osun State and international partners from Britain, China, and Germany attended the summit.
The representatives, in their goodwill messages, reaffirmed their commitment to driving green growth, embracing climate vulnerability as an opportunity for progress, and advancing Africa’s blue economy for a sustainable future. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Chinyere Joel-Nwokeoma
