Nigeria urged to fully adopt green economy for smart cities and sustainability

Environmental experts, policymakers, and private-sector stakeholders are calling for Nigeria to fully embrace a green economy, a move they believe is essential for building smart cities and promoting sustainability. This urgent appeal came during the recent Nigeria Environmental Summit (NESt2026) in Abuja, where participants stressed the vital connection between climate action, environmental governance, and the nation's overall development.

The summit, organized by the Nigerian Environmental Summit Group (NESG) with support from various international and local organizations, served as a key platform for dialogue. It brought together government officials, investors, academics, civil society members, and international partners to discuss equitable climate action and inclusion. The event also recognized individuals, businesses, and states that have made significant contributions to environmental health and sustainability.

Edwin Isotu-Edeh of the NESG highlighted the vast potential of the green economy to address Nigeria's challenges, particularly youth unemployment. "The green economy is undoubtedly an area that can change this situation if we begin to exploit it," he stated in an interview, emphasizing its capacity to transform the nation's economic landscape.

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It is no news that our dear nation is suffering from youth unemployment and other issues. Yet, the green economy is undoubtedly an area that can change this situation if we begin to exploit it.

Discussions also focused on building climate-resilient infrastructure for Nigeria's future cities. Experts agreed that creating trustworthy systems is paramount for attracting investment. Samuel Steveson, an economist with the Central Bank of Nigeria, underscored the need for trust to drive sustainable development, stating, "For us to harmonize the country’s fiscal policy, we need to build trust. It is trust that will make people invest and drive policy consistency."

The summit concluded with a strong call to action to unlock over $5 billion in investment pipelines within the green economy sector, asserting that Nigeria possesses the necessary resources and potential to contribute significantly to global development.

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For us to harmonize the country’s fiscal policy, we need to build trust. It is trust that will make people invest and drive policy consistency. Thus, we need to create an inter-generational balance sheet where trust flows from now to the future because people won’t build in an economy that will collapse. So, our policies must be free and confident so that peo