Nigeria took a prominent role at the 2025 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bonn, Germany, where its government outlined updated strategies to boost resilience amid intensifying climate threats.
Led by Environment Minister Balarabe Lawal, the delegation underlined strengthening early warning systems, sustainable agriculture, and multisectoral climate finance partnerships to protect vulnerable communities.
This push follows severe flooding in states like Niger and Nasarawa, which displaced thousands and illustrated the urgent impacts of climate change exacerbated by deforestation and unregulated development.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) forecasted a variable rainy season in 2025, such as early rains in southern Nigeria but delayed onset in parts of the north-central region—information critical for agriculture and disaster planning.
To finance adaptation efforts, Nigeria’s National Council on Climate Change announced plans in April to operationalise the National Climate Change Fund, designed to mobilise local and international resources for mitigation, adaptation, and capacity building.
However, the International Monetary Fund cautioned in July that escalating climate events threaten Nigeria’s fiscal stability, with flooding and sea-level rise endangering infrastructure in coastal commercial hubs like Lagos.
In Bonn, Nigeria positioned climate action not only as an imperative for security but as an opportunity for green jobs and economic diversification. Calls for greater global support aimed to meet Nigeria’s Paris Agreement commitments and stimulate Africa’s green transition.
Experts say Nigeria’s success depends on converting high-level commitments into actionable policies that protect communities and advance sustainable growth.
