LAGOS/Nigeria: Lagos State has once again emerged as Nigeria’s best-performing state in the 2025 Subnational Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking, maintaining its lead for the second consecutive year.
The result was officially announced on Tuesday in Abuja during the public presentation of the second edition of the report, an initiative of the Department of Climate Change, Federal Ministry of Environment, in collaboration with the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP).
The annual exercise evaluates the climate performance of all 36 states across five thematic areas: institutional arrangements, climate policy frameworks, budgetary allocations, programme implementation and monitoring, as well as online visibility and public communication on climate issues.
Announcing the results, Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Lawal, said Lagos State scored 315 points to clinch the top position, followed by Katsina and Kaduna States with 310 and 305 points respectively.
“The ranking reflects the growing effort of subnational governments to embed climate action into governance,” the Minister said, commending the participating states for their commitment to sustainable development.
President of the Society for Planet and Prosperity (SPP), Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, said the assessment was designed to promote accountability and innovation among subnational actors.
“The ranking provides an evidence-based reflection of each state’s commitment and offers guidance on the areas requiring greater attention,” he explained.
Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Mrs. Tenioye Majekodunmi, hailed the report as a milestone in Nigeria’s pursuit of grassroots-driven climate action.
“This second ranking stands as a testament to the growing political will demonstrated by state governments. The NCCC remains committed to translating national climate ambition into tangible local realities,” she said.
Also speaking, Ms. Samantha Harrison, First Secretary for Climate Diplomacy at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), emphasized the central role of subnational actors in climate governance.
“Without them, our policies remain spreadsheets on paper. Effective climate action at the subnational level is not just beneficial — it is essential,” she noted.
Kano State Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Dahiru Hashim, described the ranking as a healthy platform for competition and collaboration.
“It provides an opportunity to showcase progress, promote knowledge exchange, and reinforce the urgency of addressing climate challenges where the impacts are most immediate,” he said.
Lagos State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Tokunbo Wahab, welcomed the recognition, describing it as validation of the state’s commitment to sustainability and inclusive green growth.
“This ranking strengthens our resolve to build resilience, drive green growth, and embed climate action in every sector of our economy,” Wahab said.
From the donor community, Prof. Anthony Nyong, Director of Climate Change and Green Growth at the African Development Bank (AfDB), commended the initiative as a model for climate accountability and informed investment.
“It provides a valuable tool for evidence-based policymaking and investment alignment to accelerate Africa’s just climate transition,” Nyong said.
Now in its second year, the Subnational Climate Governance Performance Rating and Ranking has evolved into a key accountability and benchmarking framework that promotes transparency, knowledge sharing, and policy innovation among Nigeria’s 36 states.
The 2025 edition also recorded significant improvement from Kano and Enugu States, both of which broke into the top five performers for the first time, signaling growing momentum for subnational climate leadership across Nigeria.
