The German government has pledged to support Lagos State and other states in Nigeria in embedding climate change adaptation into their development plans.

Johannes Lehne, the deputy ambassador of Germany to Nigeria, disclosed this on Wednesday in Lagos at the Sub-National Dialogue on Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation into State Development Plans.

The event was organised by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit in partnership with the Lagos State Office of Climate Change and Circular Economy.

Mr Lehne said that the focus on embedding climate change adaptation into development plans would be on renewable energy, institutional capacity, and sustainable infrastructure. He said Lagos had made progress in integrating sustainability into its development strategies, stressing that Germany would provide technical expertise and financial support to expand ongoing efforts.

The envoy highlighted solar power as a key area of partnership with the Lagos government. He noted that Germany had supported Nigeria for more than 50 years across all regions, tailoring programmes to the specific needs of states from Sokoto to Lagos, Niger to Anambra, and Port Harcourt to Borno.

Mr Lehne also pointed to recent federal initiatives such as the carbon market activation policy, which he described as a forward-looking step that could strengthen Nigeria’s economic resilience while creating opportunities for investment in the green economy.

Markus Wagner, GIZ country director for Nigeria and ECOWAS, stated that climate change was already having devastating effects across the country, making adaptation a pressing priority.

He explained that while the federal government had taken strides through the National Development Plan (2021-2023), the National Adaptation Plan, and the Climate Change Act, much remained to be done at the state level.

He noted that GIZ was partnering with Lagos and other states to build capacity, close institutional gaps, and align policies with both national frameworks and international agreements, such as the Paris Accord.

Sam Egube, deputy chief of staff to the Lagos governor, said the dialogue was an opportunity for states to learn how to align development plans with climate action.

He described Lagos as both vulnerable and strategic, noting its low-lying geography and its role as a magnet for migrants fleeing instability and climate pressures in other parts of Nigeria.

Mr Egube listed ongoing state projects, including the development of deep-sea ports, investment in tree planting and mangrove restoration, as well as initiatives aimed at securing food system stability.

(NAN)