Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has convened a high-level strategic roundtable with the Lagos State Office of Sustainable Development Goals, the United Nations Global Compact Networks and regional partners from Africa and the Caribbean to develop measures for tackling climate threats to coastal communities and critical infrastructure.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed the development in a post on his X handle on Wednesday, stressing the need for immediate action and sustainable financing to protect vulnerable coastal areas from the effects of extreme weather events.
The executive session focused on accelerating practical solutions to the environmental challenges confronting Lagos, particularly rising sea levels, coastal erosion and recurrent flooding.
According to the governor, Lagos’ status as a low-lying coastal megacity makes it particularly exposed to the effects of climate change, with flooding already affecting communities and placing pressure on roads, homes and businesses.
“Lagos is a coastal city, so climate change is not a distant concern for us. We see its effects in the flooding that affects our communities and the pressure it puts on our roads, homes, and businesses,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He said the increasing physical and economic impact of climate-related events required authorities to move beyond conventional policy discussions and pursue structural interventions capable of protecting communities and infrastructure before extreme weather events occur.
A major focus of the roundtable was the need to close the financing gap confronting large-scale climate resilience projects by attracting private-sector investment alongside international development financing.
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Sanwo-Olu said government resources alone would not be sufficient to develop and maintain the infrastructure required to protect Lagos against increasing environmental pressures.
“By working directly with the private sector, we are putting measures in place and building a stronger, more prepared Lagos,” he said.
“Government cannot do this alone. We need strong partnerships and practical solutions that will help secure our economic future.”
The governor said the partnership involving the UN Global Compact Networks and transatlantic partners was expected to support the development of scalable approaches to coastal protection, infrastructure reinforcement and climate-resilient urban development.
The initiative comes as Lagos continues to grapple with the environmental and economic implications of its extensive coastline and rapidly growing urban population.
The roundtable is expected to strengthen collaboration between government, private-sector investors and international development partners in mobilising resources for climate adaptation and resilience projects across the state.