Written by: Paul Gwumapan Joseph
Climate and Sustainable Development Network (CSDevNet) participated in the Abuja City Environmental Sustainability Summit held on April 29, 2025, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.
The event was convened by the Office of the Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change Matters, Comrade Yussuf Olatunji Kelani, in collaboration with partners such as the Federal Ministry of Environment, Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet), Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Eco-Cyclo Plastic, and several private sector stakeholders.
The summit brought together policymakers, environmentalists, urban planners, and youth-led innovators to explore strategies for transforming Abuja into a resilient and green city. It aimed to tackle the growing urban and environmental challenges in Nigeria’s capital by fostering dialogue, building capacity, and promoting sustainable urban solutions through inclusive stakeholder participation.
The summit began with opening remarks from Comrade Yussuf Olatunji Kelani, who emphasized the urgency of mainstreaming climate change adaptation into Nigeria’s urban development agenda.
He reaffirmed the commitment of his office to driving nationwide climate interventions under the Presidential Climate Change Action and Resilience Enhancement Scheme (P-CARES), a platform aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The environmental realities we face today, from floods in Lokoja to droughts in Sokoto, demand a unified and sustained response. This summit is a call to action for everyone, from policymakers to everyday citizens,” Kelani stated.
Delivering a goodwill message, Professor Charles Anosike, Director-General of NiMet, underscored the critical link between accurate meteorological data and sustainable urban planning. “Sustainability cannot be achieved without science-based decisions.
At NiMet, we are working to ensure timely, reliable weather and climate information for decision-making at all levels,” he said.
He further stressed the need to localize climate data for cities like Abuja, noting, “Every square kilometer of Nigeria needs its own forecast. Urban floods don’t wait for national plans they respond to local failures.”
He also called for a rethink in environmental education and public communication on climate change, warning that “the danger is not just the climate crisis, but the crisis of ignorance. If people don’t understand the risks, they can’t take the right actions.”
Professor Anosike called for more investment in early warning systems and collaboration between climate actors, emphasizing that “no institution alone can tackle the complexity of urban climate vulnerability.”
The first panel session, Waste to Wealth – Advancing Circular Economy Solutions, featured Taiwo Adewole, National Operations Coordinator at Eco-Cyclo Plastic, as the lead presenter. He outlined innovative approaches to plastic waste recycling and its potential for job creation.
Panelists Adeleye Odebunmi (CEO, Pakam Technology) and Stellamaris Olushoto (Operations Manager, Ecobarter) shared experiences on digital solutions for waste recovery and behavioral change in communities.
“If we don’t transform waste, waste will transform our future,” said Odebunmi. The session was moderated by environmental journalist Seyifunmi Adebote.
In the keynote address, the Hon. Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, reiterated the federal government’s determination to integrate sustainability into all sectors of national development.
He stated, “We must embed climate consciousness in every aspect of our city life—from construction to transportation, from schools to marketplaces.” He praised the summit as a “timely convergence of ideas and action” and urged private sector actors to complement government efforts in green infrastructure investment.
Mr. Maximus Ngwoke, Sustainability Lead at Carbon Craft Africa, delivered a presentation on city-level climate resilience, drawing from his experience as a Lagos City Advisor under the Urban Climate Action Programme. “Cities are at the frontlines of climate change.
They are also where we can make the greatest impact through innovation, planning, and people-centered policies,” he remarked.
Dr. Babatunde Ajayi, General Manager of the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), followed with insights into regulatory frameworks and green compliance in urban governance.
He stressed that enforcement must be balanced with incentives to encourage green entrepreneurship. “Environmental compliance should not feel like punishment—it should be a pathway to cleaner, smarter business,” he said.
The second panel, Pathway to Net Zero – Accelerating Nigeria’s Energy Transition, was led by Engr. Michael Olugbemi PMP, Director of P-CNGi, with contributions from TPL. Mrs. Rekiyat Fache (National Chairperson, Association of Women Town Planners of Nigeria), Dr. Mike Terungwa (Executive Director, GIFSEP), and Olamide Fagbuji (SSA to the President on Climate Technology and Operations).
The panel was moderated by Davide Arinze, Program Officer with the USADF. The discussions focused on cleaner energy adoption, spatial planning, and mainstreaming women in climate technology leadership.
The final panel, Sustainable Urban Transformation – Building a Resilient and Green Abuja, saw the Conservator General of the National Park Service, Dr. Ibrahim Gona, presenting on urban conservation and nature-based solutions.
Other panelists included Mr. Sulaimon Arigbabu of the HEDA Resource Centre, Mr. Lateef Oluwole Shitta Bey of WasteCare Solutions, and Amb. Dr. Lawrence Emmanuel Oloche of Promiseland Estate. Moderator Ebere Akwuebu guided the dialogue toward tangible solutions for green real estate, urban forestry, and flood-resilient development.
Closing remarks were delivered by the Chairman local organising committee, Mr. Azeez Salawu, who highlighted the importance of follow-through on the summit’s resolutions and called for the institutionalization of the Abuja Environmental Sustainability Summit as an annual event.
In conclusion, the Abuja City Environmental Sustainability Summit provided a vital platform for stakeholders to reimagine and recalibrate the trajectory of urban growth in Nigeria’s capital city.
Participants left with renewed commitment, practical tools, and policy insights to contribute to Abuja’s green transformation. CSDevNet’s engagement at the summit aligns with its mission to advance equity-based, pro-poor, climate-friendly solutions in Nigeria.
The summit’s take-home message was clear: building a resilient and green Abuja requires unified vision, inclusive participation, and sustained action.