The Lagos State Government has reiterated its commitment to tackling the effects of climate change and building resilience for its residents.
The Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, stated this on Friday while receiving members of the Time for Africa Foundation during a strategic meeting at Alausa, Ikeja.
According to a statement issued by the spokesperson for the ministry, Kunle Adeshina, the commissioner said the government was open to partnerships with organisations that could positively impact the state.
“The state believes in collaborations that are data-driven and people-oriented,” Wahab said, adding that proper data collation was critical for government decision-making and futuristic predictions.
He described Lagos as a unique state, being the smallest in Nigeria in terms of landmass, yet full of opportunities waiting to be tapped.
According to him, the state’s peculiar location makes it more vulnerable to climate-related challenges.
“Lagos is also a state that is below sea level, and as such, the state is exposed to the risk of climate change in different ways,” he said.
He identified intense heat and excessive rainfall as some of the effects of climate change.
Wahab stressed that the government had accepted these challenges and was adopting different approaches to address them.
“The state government sees and has accepted the challenges as such is taking very different approaches in tackling them,” he added.
In her response, the Founder of Time for Africa Foundation, Dr. Abiodun Olushola, said her organisation was a multi-initiative foundation focusing on community development, education, health, and climate action.
She explained that the foundation works with global experts and stakeholders to drive sustainable growth, financial inclusion, and stronger communities.
Olushola expressed the foundation’s readiness to work with Lagos through its ministries and agencies to strengthen existing initiatives.
