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Nigeria targets N18.3trn adaptation investment, urges shift from climate cost to business opportunity – EnviroNews
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If Nigeria is to truly mobilise the N18.3 trillion envisioned in its National Adaptation Plan (NAP) by 2050, experts say it must shift its mindset from viewing adaptation as a cost to be managed to one of investment in its people, economy, and future
According to the NAP, for every N1 invested in adaptation, a profit of at least N2.30 kobo is expected. The stakeholders argue that this stance reinforces their call for adaptation to be regarded as a business opportunity rather than merely an environmental crisis.
Dr. Salihu Usman, Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Environment, said potential investors and financing institutions require clarity, institutional coordination, predictable processes and confidence that proposed interventions can be implemented effectively.
The PS, who made the statement in a keynote address on Tuesday, November 3, 2026, at a stakeholder dialogue on Investment and Partnership for Implementing Sectoral Priorities of Nigeria’s NAP hosted by his ministry in Abuja, advocated that adaptation investments should be inclusive and responsive to the needs of those most vulnerable to climate impacts.
“Government must continue to strengthen the relevant policy, regulatory and institutional frameworks while ensuring that adaptation investments are transparent, accountable and responsive to national development priorities,” he stated.
This is very crucial, because for Nigeria, adaptation is not simply an environmental objective, he emphasised, it is a development imperative that has implications for economic stability, food security, poverty reduction, infrastructure planning and the welfare of present and future generations.
He said that the event’s theme, “From Adaptation Planning to Climate Resilience Action: Strengthening Implementation, Investment and Partnerships for Nigeria’s National Adaptation Plan,” speaks directly to one of the most significant issues facing climate action today: how to convert policy commitments and established priorities into appropriately funded, well-coordinated, and quantifiable interventions.
As a result, he called for national and subnational development planning to incorporate and reinforce adaptation goals. He contends that climate resilience shouldn’t be viewed as a distinct endeavour carried out solely by environmental institutions.
“It must inform decisions in agriculture, water resources, health, transport, energy, housing, urban development and other sectors exposed to climate risks,” he added.
As he concluded his speech, he informed the audience that the task ahead was challenging. However, he also reminded them that it presents an opportunity to promote sustainable development while strengthening the resilience of the nation’s people and economy.
“Every well-designed adaptation investment has the potential to reduce future losses, protect livelihoods, strengthen essential services and support a more resilient development pathway,” the PS submitted.
Dr. Iniobong Abiola-Awe, Director, Department of Climate Change (DCC), Federal Ministry of Environment, urged delegates to explore how selected priorities could be transformed into realistic, well-defined, and investment-ready solutions.
She added that in order to draw resources and guarantee that investments yield significant and long-lasting benefits, they must also look at the institutional arrangements, enabling regulations, and coordinating mechanisms.
The NAP, as she explained, offers a crucial framework for coordinating national adaptation priorities and steering actions towards achieving a climate-resilient future. Nevertheless, she emphasised that the effectiveness of this framework will ultimately hinge on how well its priorities are implemented, financed, and integrated into both sectoral and subnational development plans.
The head of the DCC acknowledged that the Ministry understands that the government cannot accomplish these goals on its own, so it is urging private sector participants and development partners to work with them to mitigate the detrimental effects of climate change on the country’s economic development and peaceful human coexistence.
“While the government has a critical responsibility to provide policy direction, establish enabling frameworks, and coordinate implementation, development partners can contribute technical expertise and catalytic finance, while the private sector can support innovation, capital mobilisation, and the delivery of scalable solutions,” Dr Abiola-Awe asserts.
Nigeria’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP), as stated by Dr. Charity Osei-Amponsah, Country Focal Point at the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), is a framework that the country can take pride in. However, having a solid plan is just the starting point.
To support that shift, she stated that her organisation has developed a policy brief to make the National Adaptation Plans (NAP) more accessible and actionable. She explained that the brief consolidates key climate risks, priority adaptation actions, investment needs, and partnership opportunities into a format that decision-makers and funders can easily utilise.
She asked the attendees to remember three things as the discussion went on: “First, what should we prioritise? Second, what can each of our institutions contribute? And third, how do we work together to turn priorities on paper into practical action?”
Dr. Osi-Amponsah reaffirmed her organisation’s support and commitment, assuring that they will continue to collaborate with the government and all stakeholders to utilise evidence, engage in dialogue, and provide policy support to tackle implementation challenges and enhance Nigeria’s climate resilience.
The event attracted a diverse group of participants from various government agencies, development partners, and private sector representatives. They collectively recognised climate adaptation as a business opportunity, rather than merely an ecological problem. To achieve the objectives of the dialogue, they asserted that it was time to shift the conversation from planning to implementation and from identifying priorities to mobilising the necessary resources, partnerships, and institutional commitments to realise these goals.
By Etta Michael Bisong, Abuja
