The Lagos State Government has unveiled a new environmental initiative aimed at combating climate change and rising urban temperatures, committing to planting 500 trees across the state while joining a global campaign to address extreme heat in cities.
The
announcement was made last Friday at the 2026 World Environment Day celebration
in Alausa, where officials warned that rapid urbanisation and climate change
were increasing heat-related risks for residents.
Speaking
at the event, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Olalekan
Rotimi-Akodu, called for greater adoption of nature-based solutions, including
tree planting, ecosystem restoration and urban greening, to strengthen climate
resilience.
He
said forests, wetlands and green spaces remain among the most effective tools
for mitigating climate impacts and improving the quality of life in rapidly
growing cities.
“Rapid
urbanisation, population growth, traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions,
and the replacement of natural landscapes with concrete and asphalt surfaces
are all contributing to rising temperatures and the Urban Heat Island effect in
cities,” Akodu said.
He
noted that Lagos, as Africa’s most populous city, faces growing threats from
extreme heat, flooding and sea-level rise, warning that higher temperatures
could affect public health, productivity, air quality and energy demand.
As
part of its response, the state formally aligned with the United Nations
Environment Programme’s global “50 Cities at 50°C” campaign, which encourages
cities to develop and share solutions to rising urban temperatures.
According
to Akodu, Lagos will participate under the theme, “50 Cities at 50°C: Lagos
Rising Against the Urban Heat Island.”
The
state also launched a new environmental stewardship programme, tagged “Me and
My Tree,” under which 500 trees will be planted across Lagos.
Residents
participating in the initiative will receive free tree seedlings and be
encouraged to nurture them to maturity.
To
encourage participation, the government announced a cash prize of N2.5m for the
owner of the best-performing tree after one year.
Akodu
said the initiative builds on Lagos’ long-running urban greening programme,
which has resulted in the planting of more than seven million trees since 2009
through partnerships involving schools, communities, businesses and government
agencies.
He
added that the state was also pursuing climate resilience through investments
in mass transit infrastructure, including rail, bus and water transportation
systems designed to reduce emissions and traffic congestion.
“Lagos
is not waiting for the future; Lagos is preparing for it, adapting to it, and
rising above it,” he said.
The
Permanent Secretary, Office of Drainage Services, Mahamood Adegbite, said World
Environment Day serves as a reminder of the need to tackle climate change and
protect future generations.
He
noted that rising temperatures were already placing pressure on public health
systems and increasing vulnerability among children, the elderly and other
at-risk groups.
“Our
megacity with a population exceeding 20 million people is increasingly
experiencing the effects of rising urban temperatures,” Adegbite said.
The
event brought together government officials, environmental experts, development
partners, civil society groups, students and private-sector stakeholders to
discuss strategies for improving environmental sustainability and climate
resilience across the state.
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