Nigeria is deepening its collaboration with Germany to drive energy efficiency in the building sector, as the country has been identified as a strategic partner under the Partnership for Energy Efficiency in Buildings (PEEB), a programme initiated by the German Development Corporation (GIZ).
Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, made the disclosure during a high-level meeting in Abuja yesterday with a delegation from GIZ, led by Dr. Karin Jansen, First Secretary and Head of Cooperation.
PEEB aims to build upon the achievements of the Nigerian Energy Support Programme by expanding energy efficiency reforms across the nation’s construction landscape.
Commending the initiative, Dangiwa described the programme as a perfect alignment with the ministry’s vision under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. According to him, it reinforces government efforts to deliver not just housing, but climate-smart, resilient, and energy-efficient communities.
“A nation’s built environment plays a critical role in achieving climate goals,” Dangiwa said. “The building and construction sector accounts for a significant share of global energy consumption and carbon emissions. Promoting green building practices is not just an option—it is essential to ensure a livable future for generations to come.”
The minister pointed to the impressive results of PEEB in countries like Mexico, where green mortgage schemes have spurred the development and uptake of sustainable housing.
He noted that Nigeria is poised to replicate such successes through institutions like the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN).
“Here in Nigeria, we see strong potential to adapt a similar green mortgage model, especially within the FMBN under the National Housing Fund (NHF) Scheme, to drive the supply and uptake of energy-efficient, affordable homes,” he stated.
Dangiwa also cited successful PEEB engagements in Tunisia and Vietnam, stressing the importance of aligning technical assistance, financing, and policy reform to achieve measurable climate impacts.
In support of this, the minister highlighted ongoing collaborations with the International Finance Corporation’s EDGE certification platform. Through this partnership, technical staff, project managers, and developers under the ministry are receiving specialised training in green building design and implementation.
He reiterated that all housing projects under the Renewed Hope Cities and Estates Programme would incorporate climate-smart, energy-efficient standards. He further announced new policy directions, including a review of the National Building Code, the establishment of Building Materials Manufacturing Hubs, and the revitalisation of the National Urban Renewal Programme to embed green infrastructure in slum upgrading efforts.
Dangiwa emphasised multiple opportunities for deeper cooperation between Nigeria and GIZ, especially in areas like technical advisory, public education, climate finance access, and capacity building.
“We are optimistic that PEEB’s expertise will strengthen our ability to develop robust proposals that can attract funding from platforms such as the Green Climate Fund (GCF), the Adaptation Fund, and GIZ’s internal financing programmes,” he said.
He also expressed interest in piloting a Green Mortgage Scheme in partnership with PEEB and FMBN, inspired by global models like INFONAVIT in Mexico, as a vehicle to advance sustainable housing in Nigeria.
Earlier in the meeting, GIZ Country Director Markus Wagner reaffirmed the enduring cooperation between Nigeria and Germany, referencing the 1974 bilateral economic agreement and the 2008 German-Nigeria Energy Partnership as key milestones.
He noted that GIZ has been instrumental in supporting Nigeria’s energy transition by offering advisory services and catalysing sustainable investments in the energy sector.
Through the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) and PEEB, Wagner said GIZ aims to partner with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to institutionalise energy efficiency as a core component of Nigeria’s construction and housing framework.
“Our goal is to support the ministry in building its capacity for sustainable architectural practices—particularly in integrating energy efficiency into the design, construction, and operation of buildings,” Wagner noted.
He also extended a formal invitation to the minister to serve as the special guest of honour at the launch of the PEEB Cool Enabling Facility in Nigeria, scheduled for June 10, 2025. Wagner further announced key initiatives coming up in May, including energy audits in 14 tertiary healthcare facilities and targeted energy efficiency support for Kano State.