The federal government has expressed interest in hosting the COP32 United Nations climate summit, a gathering where representatives from 198 countries that have ratified the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) come together to negotiate agreements on climate action.
This announcement was made during the visit of Simon Stiell, the head of the UN’s climate arm. If approved, COP32 is set to take place in Lagos in 2027, as reported by Climate Home News.
At a symposium attended by Stiell, Nkiruka Maduekwe, head of the country’s climate change council, emphasized that Africa’s most populous city “has what it takes to host COP32.” She added during a press briefing that Nigeria has demonstrated its commitment to climate action as a “champion.”
Lagos State Commissioner for Environment, Tokunbo Wahab, reinforced this sentiment, stating that Lagos is prepared to do whatever is necessary to host COP32. “If Azerbaijan can host the conference in Baku, why can’t Nigeria do it in Lagos?” he questioned.
The environment ministry shared on social media that Nigeria seeks to host the annual UN summit to enhance the country’s “climate leadership, global visibility, and economic opportunities.”
African nations will collaboratively decide which country to nominate for hosting COP32, with the decision likely to be made at COP30 in Brazil this November. This nomination will then require approval by consensus from all countries during the conference.
Nigeria is the first country to officially express its interest in hosting the summit. Stiell acknowledged this at a media briefing in Lagos, noting that while “there is a process” and other countries may submit bids, he is supportive of Nigeria’s candidacy within its constituency group (the African Group).
The right to host a COP rotates among the UN’s five geographic blocks, and COP32 in 2027 will be Africa’s turn—five years after Egypt hosted COP27 in 2022.
According to Net Zero Tracker, which analyzes national climate plans, Nigeria is the only African country to have established a legal target for net zero greenhouse gas emissions, aiming to achieve this by 2060, a target set in 2021.
As the continent’s largest oil producer, Nigeria has extensive oil drilling activities in its southern Delta region and offshore. The country relies on oil and gas revenue for nearly half of its government budget. At COP28 in 2023, all governments agreed to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems, albeit without specifying how or by when this would occur.
