HBM Nigeria Plc has called for stronger climate action, sustainable infrastructure development and greater collaboration across sectors to unlock Nigeria’s green economy potential.
The company made the call at the 2026 Nigeria Environmental Summit (NESt), held in Abuja under the theme, “Unlocking Nigeria’s Green Economy: Driving Climate Action and Environmental Governance.” The summit brought together government officials, investors, private sector leaders, academics, civil society organisations and development partners to explore strategies for advancing climate action and environmental governance.
Speaking at the event, Director, Organisation and Human Resources, Gbemiga Owolabi, described Nigeria’s transition to a green economy as both an economic opportunity and a development imperative. He said achieving meaningful progress would require stronger collaboration among government, businesses, academia, development institutions and civil society.
According to him, sustainable economic growth and environmental protection are mutually reinforcing, adding that climate smart investments can create jobs, strengthen resilience, attract investment and support long term prosperity.
Country Head, Aggregates and Concrete, Emmanuel Ilaboya, said rapid population growth, urbanisation, climate change and rising demand for better living standards are placing increasing pressure on Nigeria’s infrastructure. He advocated a shift from a linear construction model to a circular economy where materials are reused rather than discarded as waste.
Ilaboya also noted that incorporating verified emission reductions into construction projects could unlock carbon finance opportunities for developers, governments and communities.
Director, Health, Safety and Environment, Rachel Ezembakwe, emphasised that worker safety, efficient design and end user well being must remain central to sustainable infrastructure development, stressing that resilient cities cannot be built at the expense of human life.
Chairman of the NESt 2026 Implementation Team, Dr. Edwin Edeh, urged stakeholders to move beyond dialogue and focus on implementation, particularly in climate smart infrastructure, green finance and environmental governance.
Also speaking at the summit, the Minister of Environment, Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, called for increased investment in green finance mechanisms, including carbon markets, blended finance and public private partnerships, to accelerate Nigeria’s climate transition.
Formerly known as Lafarge Africa Plc, HBM Nigeria Plc is a member of the Huaxin Building Materials Group and operates cement manufacturing plants across Ogun, Gombe and Cross River states, with ready mix concrete operations in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt. The company has an installed cement production capacity of 10.5 million tonnes per annum.
