HBM Nigeria was asked to accelerate climate action, sustainable infrastructure development and stronger cross-sector collaboration to unlock the potential of Nigeria’s green economy.
The company made the call during the 2026 Nigerian Environment Summit (NESt) in Abuja.
The Director of Organization and Human Resources of HBM Nigeria Plc, Gbemiga Owolabi, made this known at the summit, whose theme was: “Unlocking Nigeria’s Green Economy: Driving Climate Action and Environmental Governance.”
It brought together government officials, investors, private sector leaders, academics, civil society and international partners, who used the opportunity to advance strategies aimed at unlocking more than $5 billion in investment projects, strengthening governance reforms and driving equity-focused climate action across Nigeria.
While commending the organizers for convening a timely platform for national dialogue on climate and sustainability, Owolabi noted that Nigeria’s transition to a green economy presents both a development imperative and an economic opportunity. He explained that achieving the green transition requires collaboration between government, industry, academia, development institutions and civil society, and stated that it is necessary to go beyond dialogue towards measurable actions.
“We congratulate the organizers of the Nigerian Environment Summit for convening this timely platform. As Nigeria seeks sustainable economic growth, the transition to a green economy presents a unique opportunity to drive development while addressing climate change. Economic progress and environmental stewardship are not competing priorities; they are mutually reinforcing.”
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“Through climate-smart investments and sustainable practices, Nigeria can create jobs, strengthen resilience, attract investment and ensure long-term prosperity for future generations,” he said.
Additionally, Emmanuel Ilaboya, Country Director, Aggregates and Concrete, HBM Nigeria Plc, highlighted the increasing pressures shaping Nigeria’s infrastructure and urban development landscape, including rapid population growth, urbanization, climate change impacts such as flooding and increasing demand for better living standards.
Ilaboya noted that cities of the future must prioritize resilience, durability and efficiency, noting that infrastructure must be designed not only for current needs but also for future generations. He added that verified emissions reductions in construction projects could unlock important carbon financing opportunities, creating additional revenue streams for developers, governments and citizens.
“Population growth, urbanization, the impacts of climate change and the growing demand for better living standards are happening simultaneously, and this is putting pressure on how we build and what we build for the future. We need to move from a linear to a circular construction model, where materials are reused rather than treated as waste. If we continue to extract raw materials without recycling, we will face serious environmental and resource challenges,” he added.
In her remarks, HBM Nigeria Plc Health, Safety and Environment Director, Rachel Ezembakwe, highlighted that worker safety, design efficiency and end-user well-being must be fundamental to infrastructure development, noting that sustainable cities cannot be achieved at the expense of human life.
NESt 2026 Global Implementation Team Chair Dr. Edwin Edeh, in his opening remarks, emphasized the need for coordinated action across sectors and urged stakeholders to move beyond dialogue towards implementation, particularly in climate-smart infrastructure, green finance and environmental governance.
Environment Minister Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal also called for accelerated investment in green finance mechanisms, including carbon markets, blended finance and public-private partnerships, to support Nigeria’s climate transition.
HBM Nigeria Plc, formerly known as Lafarge Africa Plc, a leading Nigerian construction solutions company and a member of Huaxin Building Materials Group.
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