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The second edition of the Subnational Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking (SCGPRR) assessed climate governance across Nigeria’s 36 states, with 36 authorised respondents completing the survey (75% male, 25% female; only 3% under 35 years). Lagos, Katsina and Kaduna emerged as top performing states scoring 315, 310 and 300 respectively out of a maximum score of 365.

Lagos, Katsina, and Kaduna states were rated as “outstanding”, with Kano, Enugu, Osun and Oyo states achieving “high” performance ranking. The other states achieved “average” and “good” ranking statuses. Only Zamfara and Rivers achieved “low” ranking status.

Kaduna state ranked highest on institutional arrangements and administrative structures while Lagos, Katsina and Kano states shared top scores for climate project implementation and monitoring. Twelve states including Lagos, Oyo, Borno and Kaduna demonstrated leadership in online visibility. Twenty-three states made provisions for climate change projects in their 2025 Appropriation Acts– an improvement from the previous edition. Only Lagos and Katsina states implemented green bonds while Niger, Gombe, Cross River, Kaduna, Oyo and Sokoto states made provisions for green bonds in their 2025 budgets but have not yet implemented them

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Performance Rating And Ranking Of Nigeria’s 36 States 2nd Edition

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The Centre for Climate Change and Development (CCCD) at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, in partnership with the Institut du Développement Durable et des Relations Internationales (IDDRI) in Paris, under the Ukama Network, in collaboration with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) has successfully hosted a workshop on Trade, Investment and green industrialisation in Nigeria: strengthening relationship with the European Union.

The workshop, which held at Transcorp Hilton Abuja, brought together over 50 high-level stakeholders, including policymakers, private sector leaders, diplomats, and development experts, to advance Nigeria’s green economic agenda and strengthen its position in green industrialisation, with a focus on the relationship with the European Union (EU).

As Nigeria seeks to diversify its economy from fossil fuels, stakeholders examined existing policies, institutional frameworks, and partnerships towards these goals, and offered recommendations. This intervention is of impeccable timing in light of recent geopolitical shifts, which have impacted several sectors and heralded international market realignments, highlighting the need to forge new international partnerships amidst the urgency to transition from fossil dependence.

Recently, Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, speaking at the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, outlined Nigeria’s strategic vision of mobilising up to $20-$30 billion annually in climate finance for climate-resilient growth and energy transition. The workshop served as a timely platform to analyse the pathway to operationalising these national priorities through enhanced EU collaboration.

At the policy workshop, participants emphasised green industrialisation as an economic necessity, aligning with Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan and net-zero goals by 2060, while identifying operationalisation gaps, opportunities, and making practical and actionable recommendations towards strengthening collaboration on sustainable trade and green industrialisation.

In his welcome remarks, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, CCCD Director and Ukama Co-Chair, highlighted the workshop’s focus on addressing structural vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s economy, such as over-reliance on oil exports, which accounts for 90% of Nigeria’s earnings, and leveraging global opportunities like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and EU’s Global Gateway Initiative.

“This dialogue aims to access policy frameworks, identify barriers and opportunities, facilitate collaboration, curate actionable plans, and commitments to reposition Nigeria for sustainable, inclusive growth,” Prof. Okereke stated.

In his remarks, Dr. Sebastien Treyer, IDDRI Executive Director and Ukama Co-Chair, underscored the importance of mutual partnerships.

“We aim to identify factors blocking market access, with a focus on understanding the key issues faced by private players in Africa who want to invest in green industrialisation supply chains, and enhance investment relations between Nigeria and the EU, fostering shared prosperity and climate action,” he said.

Dr. Mrs. Rachel Mandi George, Director of Trade at FMITI, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to policies promoting sustainable industrial development, renewable energy, and value addition.

“The steps taken by the European Union represent a shared commitment to shape a more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable economic future for Nigeria. As Africa’s largest economy and most populous nation, the choices we make today regarding industrial growth, trade, and investment will determine not only our economic prosperity but also our environmental sustainability and social wellbeing. Green industrialisation offers Nigeria a transformative pathway,” she stated.

Mr. Olamide Fagbuji, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Climate Technology and Operations, speaking on Nigeria’s policy landscape, outlined several policies developed by Nigeria to promote climate action.

“Nigeria, through the Climate Change Act, established the National Council on Climate Change to promote and coordinate national climate action. This body has enabled the development of several key policy frameworks, including the Energy Transition Plan (our blueprint for achieving net zero), the Long-Term Low Emission Development Strategy (LT-LED), and, notably, the Nationally Determined Contribution 3.0, published late last year. As a country, we remain focused on mobilising investment to ensure Nigeria meets its climate commitments,” he said.

In his Address, the Head of EU delegation in Nigeria, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, described the EU partnership offer as long-term, and sustainable, quality infrastructure that is beneficial to partner countries without creating new forms of dependency.

“At the regional level across West Africa, we are fostering integration and developing trade corridors while supporting the African Continental Free Trade Area. On industrialisation, our priority is to build the industries of the future, not the industries of the past, and to support companies through that transition. That commitment lies at the heart of our partnership with Nigeria. Specific strategies will reflect each country’s sovereign choices, and we are ready to provide technical assistance to both federal and state governments. Ultimately, our goal is to develop local value chains that deliver real benefits to partner countries,” he said.

As global climate negotiations unfold at COP30 Belem, Brazil, one of the revelations that has caught media attention is that global GHG emissions are still rising and that the world may be headed for a 2.5oc temperature rise by the end of the century.  With the effects of climate change already weighing heavily on us in Nigeria, it has become imperative to factor climate resilience in fabric of every sector. One of the sectors where urgent action is required in Nigeria is the building sector.

Globally, buildings account for 37% of greenhouse gas emissions, consume 40% of the world’s energy, and use 16% of water annually (UNEP, 2024). Cement, the backbone of construction in Nigeria, is responsible for emitting over 11 million tonnes of CO₂ every year, according to UNEP (2023). We also face a housing deficit of over 24 million units, with more than 75% of existing homes classified as substandard by government and industry assessments. This has fueled a sprawling informal construction boom that often overlooks climate resilience, increasing dependence on diesel generators, straining waste management systems, and leaving millions vulnerable to environmental hazards. In 2012, catastrophic floods displaced 2.1 million people and caused an estimated ₦2.6 trillion in damages. Another 600,000 people were displaced during the 2018 floods, underscoring the growing threat of climate-related disasters(UN-Habitat, 2024). Meanwhile, Nigerian cities grow at over 3.5% annually and Nigeria ranks 162 out of 180 countries in the 2022 Environmental Performance Index, a painful reminder that we are falling behind.

The spaces where we live shape how we adapt to climate change. Stronger building codes mean safer homes, fewer lives lost to disasters, and cities that thrive rather than crumble. Nigeria has introduced climate policies such as the NDC pledging 20% unconditional emission reduction and 47% conditional emissions reduction by 2030, the Climate Change Act (2021), the National Building Code, and the Building Energy Efficiency Code (2017). Yet these commitments have not translated to practice. The gap is not one of ambition but a lack of enforcement.

Nigeria’s building regulations exist, but are rarely enforced consistently with implementation heavily impeded and compromised by local politics and corruption. Informal construction remains widespread due to limited technical expertise and weak institutional oversight.

Lagos State exemplifies the complexity of Nigeria’s urban regulatory landscape. Securing a building permit involves navigating 17 distinct procedures over an average of 118 days. Faced with such delays, developers rationally choose to bribe officials for expedited permits or to build informally without permits. These practices undermine code compliance and heighten safety risks. While regulatory agencies have the mandate to inspect and enforce standards, enforcement tends to be reactive rather than preventive, often triggered only after structural failures or public outcry. At its core, this is a governance challenge, not just a technical one.

Yet change is possible. Kenya updated its National Building Code in 2024 to mandate rainwater harvesting, heat mitigation, energy efficiency, and Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure, making climate resilience legally required, not optional. India’s Energy Conservation and Sustainable Building Code establishes tiered compliance levels, allowing developers to choose standards that match their project budgets while maintaining baseline performance. These example are recent, tested, and can apply to Nigeria.

Strengthening codes alone will fail without simultaneously investing in enforcement capacity, institutional integrity, and professional accountability. Research has shown that the issue isn’t a lack of laws, but a failure to enforce them effectively. The gap between Nigeria’s codes and their implementation is not knowledge; it is institutional will that requires action on three fronts: 

First, we must integrate climate resilience into the National Building Code itself. Mandatory provisions must address energy efficiency, water conservation, flood resilience, and embodied carbon with clear standards tied to climate zones, including inclusivity requirements for disabled or vulnerable occupants, ensuring resilience serves all populations, not just the able-bodied. This integration must reflect Nigeria’s actual emissions and vulnerabilities.

Secondly, we need to reform enforcement. Permitting processes must be streamlined to eliminate corruption incentives. Multi-agency coordination must be simplified. Professional oversight must be strengthened with clear liability. Training for building officials must be mandatory. The adoption of transparent online permitting systems can significantly reduce opportunities for corruption by minimizing human discretion and increasing accountability. Critically, state and federal oversight is essential as local authorities alone cannot bear the full weight of enforcement.

Thirdly,  we need to create market incentives that reward excellence. Kenya offers a compelling model by pairing mandatory building standards with voluntary green certification schemes that unlock financing benefits. Nigeria could adopt a similar dual-track approach. Mandatory standards would establish the baseline for compliance, while voluntary certifications would encourage developers to aim higher, offering access to concessional financing, faster permitting, and recognition for sustainable performance.

With 24 million housing units needed and millions more to come, Nigeria faces a transformational opportunity. Each new building is an opportunity to construct smarter, more resilient structures. Enforcing standards sets a precedent, and holding developers accountable strengthens norms. By strengthening and enforcing building codes, construction shifts from national liability to national asset. The benefits are far-reaching: reduced repair costs, healthier living, job creation, innovation in local materials, and greater resilience to climate shocks.

If we fail to act, the costs will be staggering. The cities we build today will shape generations to come. We can settle for incremental tweaks or seize the chance to build lasting resilience. We can treat building codes as bureaucratic hurdles or embrace them as essential tools for public safety and climate adaptation.

The real question facing Nigeria is not whether we can afford to act, but whether we can afford not to.

By Ifeoma Adenusi

Society for Planet and Prosperity, Nigeria

The Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP) in collaboration with the office of the first lady of Enugu state and the office of the senior adviser to the governor of Enugu State on Climate Policy and Sustainable Development brought together over 50 students, teachers, and stakeholders at the parliament hall, Enugu state post primary school management board for a one day training on the use of the climate manual that was launched by Enugu state Government in march 2025. 

The manual was co-created by teachers and students and spearheaded by Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, with funding from the University of Bristol, United Kingdom. It was designed to equip students with essential knowledge and practical tools to address climate change.

Speaking at the event, the wife of the governor of Enugu state, Her Excellency Mrs Nkechinyere Mbah, who was represented by the wife of the Honourable Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Mrs Chinyere Ugwu, described the initiative as a great idea coming from the office of the SA to the Governor and encouraged the teachers to champion and sustain the novel initiative in the state

“The role of the teachers is critical in making this process a success to train the students to be climate Ambassadors,” she said.

Similarly, the commissioner for environment Enugu state Prof Sam Ugwu, who was represented by the Director, Department of climate change Enugu state Ministry of Environment Dr Nnamdi Arum, thanked the SA and the office of the first lady for putting up the great initiative which has become an avenue to empower the younger generation on how to be alert to climate change challenges , including the best and most sustainable ways to address climate impacts.

“ This initiative is a significant step towards empowering our educators and students with the knowledge and skills necessary to understand and address climate change. By equipping them with the tools and resources outlined in the Climate Manual, we can foster a culture of sustainability and environmental stewardship in our schools and communities.” He stated

The Chairman of Enugu state Post primary school management board (PPSMB), Rev. Fr. Dr Hillary Mgbodile thanked the SA and the office of the First Lady for the laudable initiative and also prayed for the sustainability of the project and scale-up of the campaign to other schools in the State.

“I commend the SA and the office of the first lady for this great initiative and urge the staff and students present to take the knowledge home and pass it to their colleagues in their various schools,” he noted.

The director of schools services Enugu State Ministry of Education Mrs Zita Oba who was  represented by Mrs Agbo Nkem, thanked the first lady and the SA’s office for the laudable initiative, and for coming back to fulfil their promise of training the staff and students and also encouraged that this kind gesture be scaled up to all the schools in Enugu state including primary schools to ensure sustainability  

The event covered training from experts on some topics from the climate manual which include: Climate Change evidence and causes, Our Environment and Human Impacts on the Environment, Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), Climate Solutions: Renewable Energy, Clean cooking and Climate Change Careers and becoming a green ambassador (Environmental school club).

There were also hands-on training and practical exhibition by the students on how to make briquettes from scratch. Equally demonstrated was how to make an ottoman chair using plastic waste from the environment.

According to SPP, the next stage of the training will involve the establishment of green clubs in secondary schools in Enugu state, with the schools that participated in the one-day training serving as the pilot hubs.

Anieze Ethelbert Elochukwu, Policy Analyst at  Society for Planet and Prosperity