NESt 2026: Nigeria’s green economy ambition moves from talks to action

For years, discussions around climate change in Nigeria have largely revolved around environmental conservation, flooding, deforestation and international climate obligations. However, the 2026 Nigeria Environmental Summit (NESt) signalled a significant shift in national thinking. Rather than treating climate action solely as an environmental responsibility, stakeholders increasingly framed it as an economic growth strategy capable of creating jobs, attracting investments, strengthening infrastructure and positioning Nigeria for long-term competitiveness.

That emerging consensus was one of the defining outcomes of the summit held in Abuja on June 17 and 18, 2026, where government officials, private sector leaders, development partners, academics, investors and civil society organisations converged under the theme, “Unlocking Nigeria’s Green Economy: Driving Climate Action and Environmental Governance.”

Perhaps the strongest message from the gathering was that Nigeria can no longer afford to separate economic development from environmental sustainability. Instead, both must progress together if Africa’s largest economy hopes to remain competitive in a world increasingly driven by low-carbon technologies, sustainable finance and climate-conscious investments.

Among the projecting voices was HBM Nigeria plc, formerly Lafarge Africa plc and now a member of the Huaxin Building Materials Group, which challenged both government and industry to move beyond policy conversations towards measurable implementation.

The summit itself produced several important decisions that could shape Nigeria’s environmental and economic future if faithfully implemented.

Foremost was the commitment by stakeholders to accelerate climate action through stronger collaboration between government, private investors, development finance institutions and research institutions. Participants agreed that fragmented interventions would no longer be sufficient to address Nigeria’s growing environmental vulnerabilities.

Equally significant was the renewed commitment to unlock over $5 billion in green investment pipelines through improved governance, policy certainty and innovative financing models. This includes expanding carbon markets, blended finance arrangements, green bonds and public-private partnerships capable of funding climate-smart infrastructure across the country.

Delegates also endorsed the transition from conventional infrastructure development to climate-resilient infrastructure that can withstand flooding, extreme temperatures, erosion and other climate-related disasters that have become increasingly frequent across Nigeria.

Another major outcome was the emphasis on circular economy principles, particularly within the construction sector. Instead of the traditional ‘extract-use-dispose’ model, stakeholders advocated greater recycling of construction materials, efficient resource utilisation and reduced waste generation.

Environmental governance reforms equally featured prominently, with participants calling for stronger regulatory enforcement, improved transparency and greater accountability in implementing climate policies.

The summit further reinforced the importance of equity in Nigeria’s climate transition, ensuring that communities, workers and vulnerable populations benefit from emerging green economy opportunities rather than becoming casualties of economic transformation.

Speaking during the summit, Gbemiga Owolabi, HBM Nigeria plc’s director of organisation and human resources, described Nigeria’s green transition as both a developmental necessity and an economic opportunity waiting to be fully exploited.

His remarks reflected a growing recognition that environmental sustainability is no longer separate from national economic planning.

According to Owolabi, economic growth and environmental stewardship should no longer be viewed as competing priorities but as mutually reinforcing objectives capable of delivering lasting prosperity.

The implication is thoughtful, since for decades, Nigeria’s development strategy has largely depended on exploiting natural resources with limited consideration for long-term environmental consequences. That approach is becoming increasingly unsustainable as climate change continues to threaten agriculture, coastal communities, transportation networks, power infrastructure and public health.

Our nation’s yearly flooding offers a painful reminder. Virtually every rainy season, states across Nigeria record devastating floods that destroy homes, schools, hospitals, roads and farmlands. The humanitarian costs run into billions of naira, while food production suffers significantly, contributing to inflation and worsening food insecurity.

Climate-resilient infrastructure therefore moves beyond environmental advocacy; it becomes an economic necessity.

Also, Emmanuel Ilaboya, HBM Nigeria’s country head for aggregates and concrete, drew attention to rapid urbanisation as another challenge confronting Nigeria. Nigeria’s population continues to grow rapidly, while millions migrate to cities each year in search of economic opportunities. This puts pressure on housing, roads, drainage systems, water supply, waste management and energy infrastructure.

Sadly, much of Nigeria’s existing infrastructure was never designed for today’s population levels, let alone future growth.

Therefore, Ilaboya’s call for resilient, durable and resource-efficient construction speaks directly to Nigeria’s urban future.

If future roads collapse after every rainy season, if buildings continue to fail due to poor construction standards, or if drainage systems cannot accommodate increasing rainfall, the nation will continue spending scarce public funds rebuilding damaged infrastructure instead of expanding economic capacity.

His advocacy for circular construction also deserves serious attention, as Nigeria’s construction industry consumes huge quantities of sand, gravel, limestone and other raw materials yearly. Yet relatively little attention has been paid to recycling construction waste despite global evidence that recycled materials can significantly reduce costs, conserve natural resources and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Moving towards circular construction could create entirely new industries centred around waste recycling, material recovery, green manufacturing and sustainable engineering. Such industries would generate thousands of skilled jobs while reducing environmental degradation.

Another important issue raised during the summit concerns carbon finance. Ilaboya observed that verified emission reductions from construction projects could unlock additional revenue through international carbon markets.

For Nigeria, this presents an opportunity that extends beyond environmental protection, as nations and businesses worldwide increasingly pay for verified carbon reductions as part of their climate commitments.

Properly regulated carbon markets could provide Nigerian companies, state governments and local communities with fresh sources of investment capital while encouraging cleaner industrial practices.

Similarly, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, the minister of environment, reinforced this direction by advocating expanded green finance mechanisms, including carbon markets, blended finance and public-private partnerships.

These financing models may become indispensable as government revenues alone remain insufficient to meet Nigeria’s enormous infrastructure requirements. Current estimates suggest that Nigeria requires hundreds of billions of dollars over the coming decades to bridge its infrastructure deficit. Traditional public financing simply cannot meet that demand; therefore, private capital must play a significantly larger role.

Nevertheless, attracting such investment requires predictable regulations, transparent governance and credible implementation of environmental policies, issues repeatedly emphasised throughout the summit.

The summit also highlighted human safety as an often-overlooked dimension of sustainability. Here, Rachel Ezembakwe, HBM Nigeria’s director of health, safety and environment, reminded participants that sustainable infrastructure cannot come at the expense of workers or end users. Her intervention is particularly relevant in Nigeria, where workplace safety standards within construction and manufacturing often remain unreliable.

Infrastructure that protects the environment while exposing workers to avoidable hazards cannot genuinely be described as sustainable. True sustainability encompasses environmental protection, economic viability and social responsibility simultaneously.

The NESt 2026 discussions therefore broadened the conversation beyond emissions and renewable energy to include occupational safety, community wellbeing and responsible project design.

Equally important was the call by Edwin Edeh, chairman of the NESt 2026 Implementation Team, for implementation rather than endless dialogue. Nigeria has developed numerous environmental policies over the years, and yet, implementation frequently remains the weakest link.

National climate policies, environmental regulations and waste management strategies often exist on paper but receive inadequate funding, weak enforcement or limited institutional coordination.

Unless the summit’s recommendations translate into practical action plans with measurable targets, clear timelines and institutional accountability, the ambitious declarations made in Abuja risk joining a long list of unrealised policy aspirations.

For Nigeria, the stakes are exceptionally high. The nation remains heavily dependent on oil revenues at a time when the global economy is steadily transitioning towards cleaner energy sources. International investors increasingly evaluate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) standards before committing capital.

Export markets are introducing carbon-related regulations that could affect Nigerian manufacturers. Development finance institutions increasingly prioritise green investments.

Nations unable to adapt may gradually lose competitiveness.

Conversely, nations that successfully position themselves within the emerging green economy stand to benefit from new industries, technology transfers, international financing and expanded employment opportunities.

The significance of NESt 2026 therefore extends far beyond environmental advocacy. It represents an acknowledgement that Nigeria’s future economic prosperity increasingly depends on how effectively it responds to climate realities.