The Lagos State Government has launched a new environmental initiative aimed at tackling rising urban temperatures and climate change, announcing plans to plant 500 trees across the state as part of efforts to reduce extreme heat.
The initiative was unveiled during the 2026 World Environment Day celebration in Alausa, where officials warned that rapid urbanisation, greenhouse gas emissions and the loss of green spaces were worsening heat conditions in the city.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s Special Adviser on Environment, Olalekan Rotimi-Akodu, said nature-based solutions such as tree planting and ecosystem restoration remain critical to improving climate resilience in Lagos.
He explained that the state is partnering with the United Nations Environment Programme’s “50 Cities at 50°C” campaign, which supports cities in developing strategies to manage rising urban temperatures.
As part of the programme, Lagos also launched the “Me and My Tree” initiative, under which residents will receive free tree seedlings and be encouraged to nurture them, with incentives including a N2.5m prize for the best-performing tree after one year.
The government said the project builds on its broader urban greening efforts, which have already seen over seven million trees planted across Lagos since 2009.
Officials noted that the initiative is also linked to wider climate adaptation measures, including investments in mass transit systems to reduce emissions and ease traffic congestion.
