Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, has thrown its weight behind the Renewed Hope Climate Change Awareness Tour, reaffirming its commitment to sustainable operations and Nigeria’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
The national initiative, inaugurated on Tuesday at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, aims to promote climate resilience, mobilise investment, and deepen awareness of climate action across all six geopolitical zones of the country.
President Bola Tinubu, represented by the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, described the tour as a national call to action, urging governors, private sector leaders, and other stakeholders to translate climate awareness into measurable results.
“Today we inaugurate a movement — the Renewed Hope Climate Change Awareness Tour. It is a national call to innovation, opportunity and sustainable development for all Nigerians”, the President said.
He noted that as global capital shifts toward cleaner energy and low-carbon investments, Nigeria must position itself as a leader rather than a bystander. He stressed that climate change presents not only risks but also opportunities for economic growth, innovation, and job creation.
The President explained that the tour would extend climate advocacy beyond policy circles into communities, engaging traditional rulers, youth, farmers, entrepreneurs, financial institutions and state governments. The goal, he said, is to identify bankable green projects, unlock local solutions, strengthen climate finance capacity, and foster public-private partnerships.
He reminded stakeholders that Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) including commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 29 per cent by 2030 and 32 per cent by 2035 compared to 2018 levels must be matched with action and investment.
“Climate resilience is national security. Leadership is not a budget; it is a result. Nigeria chooses leadership over hesitation”, Tinubu declared.
Director of Forestry in the Ministry of Environment, Halima Bawa, highlighted the growing impact of desert encroachment, flooding, coastal erosion and erratic rainfall on livelihoods, particularly farmers. She commended the Climate Change Act 2021 for providing a legal framework for coordinated governance, carbon budgeting and a pathway to net-zero emissions by 2060.
Special Assistant to the President on Climate Change Matters and Chairman of the REHCCAT Committee, Yussuf Kelani, described the tour as a nationwide movement grounded in leadership, collaboration and environmental security.
He said the initiative seeks to democratise climate knowledge, align federal and state actions with Nigeria’s NDCs, and mobilise green jobs and climate finance.
Guest speaker, Prof. Babajide Alo, emphasised the importance of locally driven adaptation, community empowerment and sustainable consumption patterns, noting that climate resilience requires collective responsibility across all sectors.
For Julius Berger Nigeria PLC, the Chief Risk Officer, Mrs. Shakira Mustapha, reiterated the company’s commitment to supporting the federal government’s sustainability agenda.
“We commit to the achievement of these goals. We are committed to it and will continue to innovate to ensure environmentally friendly operations in alignment with the federal government’s sustainability objectives”, she said, pledging continued support for the movement.
According to REHCCAT, key sectoral targets of the tour include reducing fugitive emissions in the oil and gas sector by 60 per cent, achieving 52 per cent renewable energy in on-grid and off-grid generation capacity, replacing diesel and single-cycle steam turbines with combined-cycle turbines by 2030, reducing tree cutting by 60 per cent, and transitioning 30 per cent of vehicles by 2035.
The ambitious climate targets are projected to require an estimated $337 billion in investment by 2035. Organisers stressed that there is no alternative to decisive action, calling on the private sector to accelerate innovation and funding for Nigeria’s low-carbon transition.
With participation from senior government officials, presidential aides and major private sector players, including a strong Julius Berger delegation, the Renewed Hope Climate Change Awareness Tour marks a coordinated push to mainstream climate action as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic and environmental future.