Federal Government warns of looming health and climate crisis without urgent integration of urban forestry in Nigeria’s city planning and housing

Urban forestry in Nigeria is now at the heart of a national climate warning, as the Federal Government says cities risk a major environmental and health emergency unless urgent reforms are made.

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Speaking at the 2025 Future Conference in Abuja, officials warned that unchecked urban expansion without greenery will deepen the country’s vulnerability to heatwaves, flooding, disease, and poor air quality.

Dr. Saleh Abubakar, Director-General of the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, sounded the alarm through his representative, Dr. Innocent Onu Alenyi.

Addressing the conference themed “Sustainable Cities – The Future of Housing”, he said Nigeria’s urban development has for too long neglected the critical role of trees and green infrastructure.

By 2050, Nigeria’s population is expected to exceed 265 million. Without proper integration of urban forests into development policies, the consequences could be catastrophic.

Saleh warned that cities without tree cover are already struggling with climate stress. He advocated for mandatory green buffers, including parks, gardens, and roadside trees.

“If we keep cutting trees and it is not nipped in the bud now, it’s going to cascade into some other things,” he said. “Without urban forests, we will face more flooding, more diseases, and severe heat impacts.”

Saleh proposed legal frameworks to make tree planting a requirement for construction approvals. Each house, he said, should plant four trees—one at each corner—to help reduce erosion, improve groundwater recharge, and enhance air quality.

He also praised states such as Gombe and Borno for their tree-planting initiatives, despite their security and budgetary challenges. However, he criticised the gap between climate policies and actual implementation across many states.

Speaking at the same event, Jonah Barde of the Department of Climate Change said that climate change is already affecting Nigerians through coastal flooding and desertification.

He stressed the need for sustainable building materials, flood-resilient urban infrastructure, and digitised property solutions.

“Every new housing project must now undergo environmental impact screening and comply with green codes,” Barde stated. “We must build housing that supports both environmental sustainability and social inclusion.”

He highlighted the importance of integrating climate-smart solutions into all sectors, including transport, agriculture, and education. He called for stronger support for property technology startups that promote transparency, automation, and innovation in housing delivery.

Sonia Somuvie, Managing Director of Coresphere and convener of the conference, said Nigerian cities are grappling with skyrocketing rents, poor building quality, and a rapid loss of green space. She urged stakeholders to adopt a future-facing approach to city planning that embraces ecological responsibility.

Somuvie, who also serves as special adviser on environment to Senator Ned Nwoko, said the conference aimed to challenge old models of housing and drive a collective shift toward climate-resilient urban development.

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As Nigeria battles urban sprawl and rising temperatures, the message from experts is clear: green cities are not a luxury—they are a necessity for survival. The call for a greener, healthier, and more climate-ready urban Nigeria is now urgent and unambiguous.