Julius Berger joins national climate campaign

Engineering and construction giant Julius Berger Nigeria PLC has thrown its weight behind Nigeria’s climate advocacy drive, aligning with the incumbent administration’s Climate Change Awareness Tour, a nationwide campaign aimed at deepening environmental consciousness and promoting sustainable development practices across communities.

The initiative, which was officially launched at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, seeks to move climate discussions from policy spaces into everyday community conversations, engaging farmers, youths, entrepreneurs, and traditional institutions in practical climate action.

Speaking at the inauguration, President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, called for stronger collaboration between government, private sector players and civil society organisations to accelerate Nigeria’s environmental transition.

Tinubu emphasised that climate change presents both risks and opportunities for national development.

He noted that global economic trends were increasingly favouring low-carbon technologies, urging Nigeria to position itself strategically. “Capital is shifting, markets are evolving, and technology is transforming industries. Nigeria intends to lead tomorrow,” he added.

The President explained that the tour would help identify viable climate projects at grassroots levels while strengthening partnerships between public institutions and private investors. He stressed that climate commitments must translate into measurable action supported by investment flows and policy implementation.

“Commitments must be matched with action, supported by investment, and this tour bridges that gap,” he said, adding that Nigeria’s nationally determined contributions represent a pathway to reducing emissions and strengthening climate resilience nationwide.

Youth participation was also highlighted as central to the success of the initiative. Tinubu encouraged young Nigerians to embrace green entrepreneurship and technological innovation. “Climate resilience is national security. Leadership is not a budget; it is a result we must accept with confidence. Nigeria chooses leadership over hesitation,” he stated.

Environmental experts at the event warned that Nigeria faces increasing ecological pressures, including flooding, desertification, and coastal degradation. Director of Forestry at the Ministry of Environment, Halima Bawa, said climate change was already affecting food security and rural livelihoods, particularly among farming communities.

Lawal commended the Climate Change Act 2021, saying it provides a strong legal framework for coordinated climate governance, carbon management, and long-term emission reduction planning toward Nigeria’s 2060 net-zero target.

Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change Matters, Yussuf Kelani, described the tour as a national mobilisation effort designed to strengthen climate finance access, promote green jobs, and align federal and state climate policies.

Guest speaker Professor Babajide Alo urged Nigerians to adopt environmentally responsible lifestyles. “Securing Nigeria’s climate future requires revisiting priorities and lifestyles, embracing responsible consumption, reducing carbon footprints, and embedding sustainability in every sector,” he said.

Representing Julius Berger, Chief Risk Officer Mrs. Shakira Mustapha said the company remains committed to supporting national sustainability goals. She noted that the private sector must play a leading role in driving climate solutions, particularly through infrastructure development that supports renewable energy integration and environmentally responsible construction practices.