The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to transforming its coastal and environmental challenges into economic and ecological strength as it prepares to host the 11th Lagos International Climate Change Summit.
The Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, made this known on Thursday during a media briefing held at the Eko Atlantic Corporate Office, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Wahab said the state was not only ready to host a world-class climate summit but was also determined to position Lagos as the climate capital of Africa, a city that not only adapts to change but leads it across the continent.
According to him, Lagos is massively investing in coastal defences, flood mitigation, renewable energy, urban greening, and circular economy models, which can serve as templates for other African cities.
“Through the Lagos International Climate Change Summit, we are sending a clear message to the world: Africa is not waiting to be rescued. We are ready to lead,” Wahab said.
He described Lagos as one of the worlds most vibrant yet climate-vulnerable coastal megacities, facing daily realities of rising sea levels, coastal erosion, and flooding, but also as a living testament to human resilience and ingenuity
.Wahab noted that the creation of the Lagos State Parks and Gardens Agency (LASPARK) was a direct outcome of earlier climate summits, just as the platform helped the state to market its Climate Resilience Policy, which he said remains the only one of its kind in Nigeria.
This year’s summit, themed Blue Economy, Green Money: Financing Africas Coastal Resilience and Ocean Innovation, he explained, would focus on converting Lagos coastal vulnerabilities into economic opportunities.
“The 2025 Summit is not merely an environmental conference but a strategic platform for action, where sub-national governments, global development institutions, investors, scientists, and innovators come together to design real, bankable climate solutions,” he added.
Wahab disclosed that the 2025 edition would spotlight five key areas, the Blue Economy, Green Finance, Nature-based Infrastructure, Innovation and Youth Empowerment, and Cross-sector Partnerships for long-term transformation.
He said over 1,200 delegates, including international agency heads, global CEOs, financiers, youth innovators, and researchers, are expected to participate, all united by the mission to finance the future of resilience in Africa.
The commissioner added that the summit would take place ahead of COP30, giving Lagos a unique opportunity to shape the global conversation and project local solutions onto the international stage.
“This summit belongs not only to government but to every organization, every citizen, and every innovator who believes in the promise of a greener and more resilient Africa,” Wahab said.
He said the state would measure its success through clear benchmarks, including the visibility of bankable projects and the effectiveness of grassroots communication, taking the summits message to vulnerable communities like Temu and the Okun Ajah corridor, where residents experience the direct effects of coastal erosion.
Wahab also appreciated the summits partners, including Eko Atlantic City, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), International Finance Corporation (IFC), African Development Bank (AfDB), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) for their continued technical and financial support.
“Together, we must build a Lagos that leads with purpose, from the deep blue of our oceans to the bright green of our innovation”, he concluded.
In his remarks, the Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, represented by Mr. Tuti Hebron, said the agency had developed a National Policy on the Blue Economy to address all legal and operational frameworks guiding the sector.
He urged other states to emulate Lagos drive in coastal tourism, citing the recently concluded E1 Electric Boat Race as an example of the states pioneering role.
Similarly, the Development Director of Eko Atlantic City, Mr. Pierre Edde, represented by Ms. Joanna Fabikun, highlighted the Great Wall of Lagos Engineering Coastal Resilience Project, which protects Victoria Island and Lekki from persistent ocean surges and is built to withstand tidal surges forecast for the next 1,000 years.
She added that Eko Atlantics ongoing efforts, including the preservation of hundreds of trees relocated from Ikoyi, reflect the citys dedication to sustainable urban development and coastal protection.
