By Peter Omopo
Lagos, July 11, 2025 — The Lagos State Government has announced a strategic partnership with China to develop the Lekki Low-Carbon Demonstration Zone, a flagship project under the China-Nigeria Low Carbon Demonstration Initiative (Nextier), aimed at curbing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable industrialization.
The initiative was unveiled during a high-level meeting between the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources and a Chinese delegation from Nextier, held at the ministry’s headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja.
Speaking at the meeting, the Lagos Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, said the collaboration aligns with the state’s long-term climate goals and policy direction.
“This partnership is in line with our commitment to building a greener and more resilient Lagos. It complements our Lagos Climate Adaptation and Resilient Action Plan launched during the 2023 Lagos International Climate Change Summit,” Wahab stated.
He added that the Lekki Free Trade Zone was selected as the pilot site due to its modern infrastructure and its positioning as a key economic hub in the state.
Wahab also recalled the 2023 Memorandum of Understanding signed between Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Environment and China’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment under the African Solar Belt Initiative. The MoU supports low-carbon industrialization and renewable energy expansion across Africa.
“This collaboration with China will not only reduce carbon emissions but also enhance the development of green industries in Lagos, especially within the Lekki corridor,” Wahab added.
The Lekki Low-Carbon Demonstration Zone is expected to serve as a model for sustainable development, integrating green technology, energy efficiency, and climate adaptation practices to support economic growth while protecting the environment.