The United Kingdom has announced a £19 million (approximately $24 million) funding commitment to support the development of climate-resilient health and education infrastructure in Nigeria.

This is disclosed in a joint statement on Tuesday by the British High Commission and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

The announcement was made during a joint inauguration event hosted by the UK government, UNICEF, Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health, and the governments of Kano and Jigawa States.

The funding will support the development of 84 climate-resilient facilities, including 39 primary healthcare centres and 45 schools, under the Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services (CRIBS) initiative.

“CRIBS is a pioneering and innovative programme piloting a new approach to protect essential health and education services from the growing threats of climate change.

“Nigeria ranks second globally in climate-related risks to children, with millions affected annually by floods, droughts, and extreme heat,” the statement said.

In response to these risks, the CRIBS approach applies targeted climate adaptation measures to strengthen vulnerable infrastructure.

The model facilities inaugurated mark a significant milestone, showcasing scalable and community-owned solutions that can be adopted across Nigeria by federal and state governments.

Cynthia Rowe, development director at the British High Commission in Abuja, expressed pride in the UK’s support through the £19 million CRIBS investment.

“This work has been developed through strong partnerships involving the federal government of Nigeria, the UK government, UNICEF, the World Bank, WHO, Sextant Foundation, JigSaw, Fab Inc., Crown Agents, and the UK Lafiya Programme,” she said.

“CRIBS shows how climate-resilient infrastructure can improve access to basic services for vulnerable populations,” Ms Rowe said.

Wafaa Saeed, UNICEF representative in Nigeria, hailed the collaboration and impact of the programme.

“By investing in climate-smart infrastructure, we are not only protecting services but also empowering communities to safeguard their children’s future.

“CRIBS is a model for how we build resilience where it matters most, at the frontline of service delivery,” the UNICEF official said.

The initiative aligns with national and state priorities on climate action, health, and education, reflecting the UK’s ongoing support for Nigeria’s efforts to mitigate climate risks and enhance service delivery.

CRIBS was launched in April 2024, funded by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).

Developed through a partnership-driven approach, the programme offers a comprehensive, affordable, and scalable model of climate-resilient infrastructure focused on the needs of vulnerable communities.

Following its success in Kano and Jigawa, CRIBS has now expanded to include Bauchi, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna, and Katsina states.

(NAN)