President Bola Tinubu has launched a nationwide climate awareness campaign aimed at accelerating Nigeria’s transition to a resilient, low-carbon economy.

Speaking through the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, at the State House in Abuja, the President inaugurated the Renewed Hope Climate Change Awareness Tour (REHCCAT), calling on governors, private sector leaders, and young Nigerians to take decisive climate action.

Tinubu described climate change as both an urgent threat and a strategic opportunity.

“Climate change is no longer a distant threat—it is here. Nations that position wisely today will lead tomorrow. Nigeria chooses leadership over hesitation,” he said.

Turning Climate Commitments into Action

The President urged state governments to convert Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) into concrete, investment-backed projects. He emphasized that commitments under global climate frameworks must be matched with measurable implementation.

Tinubu tasked:

• Governors to serve as engines of green growth

• Private sector leaders to innovate and invest boldly

• Youth to take ownership of the green transition

He linked climate resilience to national security and economic sustainability, aligning the initiative with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda focused on energy security, food systems, and sustainable development.

Climate Change Act and Subnational Action

The Minister highlighted that the Climate Change Act 2021 provides a legal framework for carbon budgeting, coordinated governance, and Nigeria’s target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.

He stressed the importance of localizing climate action through:

• Appointment of Subnational Directors of Climate Change

• Establishment of Climate Change Desks across state MDAs

• Stronger grassroots engagement and policy coordination

Environmental challenges cited include desert encroachment in northern Nigeria, flooding in riverine communities, and coastal erosion in southern regions.

Youth-Focused Climate Initiatives

The tour also spotlights youth-driven programmes designed to build green skills and climate entrepreneurship, including:

• Eco-School Initiative

• Youth Climate Innovation Hub

• Uni-Go-Green Initiative

These programmes aim to mainstream environmental education, promote renewable energy adoption, encourage sustainable agriculture, and expand digital climate services.

“Activation, Not Just Speeches”

REHCCAT Committee Chairman and Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change, Yussuf Olatunji Kelani, described the tour as action-driven rather than symbolic.

He said the initiative seeks to:

• Democratize climate knowledge

• Align federal and state climate policies

• Mobilize climate finance and green investment

“The tour is about activation. It brings climate action to communities, markets, farms, classrooms, and policy chambers,” Kelani noted.

He also referenced the Sustainable Climate Resilience and Initiative for People and Transformation, a programme promoting climate-smart agriculture and ecological restoration.

Call for Community-Led Adaptation

Guest speaker Babajide Alo emphasized the importance of locally led adaptation strategies, urging governments to empower communities through indigenous knowledge and inclusive decision-making.

He called for improved climate education, expanded resource access, and deeper grassroots participation to build adaptive, climate-resilient communities.

A Whole-of-Society Approach

Additional members appointed to the REHCCAT Committee include:

• Ibrahim Shelleng, Senior Special Assistant on Climate Change Matters

• Olamide Fagbuji, Special Assistant on Climate Change Financing

The initiative signals a coordinated national strategy designed to move climate action beyond policy rhetoric into community-level implementation.

As Nigeria grapples with increasing climate risks—from flooding to desertification—the federal government’s push for green growth reflects a broader ambition to position the country as a regional leader in sustainable development and climate governance.

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