By Oluwakemi Kindness
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has urged global investors to channel funds into Nigeria’s green economy, highlighting renewable energy, climate-smart agriculture, clean transportation, and resilient infrastructure as major investment opportunities.
Speaking on Wednesday at the Nigeria Climate Investment Summit during London Climate Action Week, Kalu said Nigeria is ready to transform its climate policies into bankable projects capable of attracting international capital.
He identified solar mini-grids, battery storage, clean cooking solutions, electricity infrastructure, electric mobility, waste-to-value systems, green manufacturing, and climate-resilient housing as sectors offering immediate investment potential.
The Deputy Speaker said climate investment is critical to addressing Nigeria’s energy, food security, and infrastructure challenges while creating jobs and supporting economic growth.
He stressed that the country’s transition to a green economy must expand access to affordable energy, equip young people with new skills, promote women’s participation, and ensure communities are not left behind.
Kalu also linked climate investment opportunities to ongoing economic reforms by the administration of President Bola Tinubu. According to him, the removal of fuel subsidies has redirected resources to infrastructure development and boosted government revenues, while foreign exchange reforms have improved liquidity and strengthened investor confidence.
He assured investors that Nigeria is strengthening its legal and regulatory framework through the Climate Change Act and the Electricity Act, both of which are designed to support private-sector participation and accelerate green investment.
Kalu further pledged the commitment of the 10th National Assembly to improving investor protection, supporting carbon markets and green finance initiatives, streamlining approvals for climate-related projects, and ensuring effective implementation of climate laws.
He called on international investors, banks, pension funds, development finance institutions, and philanthropic organisations to partner with Nigeria through innovative financing models, including blended finance, green guarantees, political risk insurance, and local-currency funding.
The Deputy Speaker also proposed a Nigeria-London Green Finance Partnership to develop investor-ready projects in clean energy, agriculture, transport, resilient infrastructure, and the circular economy, saying the goal is to turn climate ambition into investment, jobs, and sustainable economic growth.
