Lagos State has emerged as the most climate-resilient city in West Africa, achieving the highest ranking for climate governance among sub-national governments across the region.
This recognition follows the outcome of the 2026 West Africa Climate Governance Index (WACGI) Assessment a comprehensive, evidence-based evaluation covering 209 sub-national governments across the 15 member states of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
According to WACGI, the assessment measured critical indicators including climate-risk exposure, governance visibility, financing structures, transparency, public participation, and implementation capacity. Lagos outperformed all other regions with an impressive score of 86.3 out of 100, earning a Grade “A” rating.
The state ranked ahead of other major cities and regions including Kano, Abuja, Greater Accra, Praia, Dakar, Porto Novo, Abidjan Autonomous District, São Filipe, and Bombali.
The ranking aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 13 (Climate Action) and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), as well as the African Union’s Agenda 2063 vision for a climate-resilient and prosperous continent.
In recognition of its outstanding performance, Lagos State was named the Best Performing Sub-national Government in West Africa for 2026. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu was subsequently conferred with the prestigious title of “Grand Laureate of Climate Governance” for his administration’s efforts in building a resilient climate governance framework.
In a letter dated July 8, 2026, addressed to the Lagos State Government, Director of Fondation Lucien Paye, Prof. Julie Peghini, commended the governor for his leadership in driving policies and initiatives aimed at mitigating climate risks and strengthening adaptive capacity.
“In recognition of this achievement, we are pleased to confer upon Your Excellency and the Government of Lagos State the distinguished honour of the ‘Grand Laureate of Climate Governance’ for 2026 best performing sub-national government in West Africa,” she stated.
Peghini added that the full report and underlying datasets have been made publicly accessible via the official French Government data repository.
The WACGI, a France-based climate policy initiative established by the Africa Foundation (Lucien Paye) at the Cité Internationale Universitaire de Paris, is dedicated to advancing climate governance across ECOWAS countries. Its framework is aligned with the provisions of the Paris Agreement, using measurable indicators to assess progress.
She noted that transparent and data-driven assessments such as WACGI serve as catalysts for institutional improvement, encouraging high-performing governments while providing actionable recommendations for others.
The report also highlighted Nigeria’s broader climate governance landscape, noting that as ECOWAS’ largest economy and emissions system, the country has developed one of the region’s most comprehensive climate frameworks. These include the Climate Change Act 2021, the National Council on Climate Change, Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC 3.0), the Energy Transition Plan, and a long-term net-zero strategy.
However, the report warned that Nigeria continues to face significant climate-related challenges across its ecological zones. These include coastal flooding and erosion in the South, desertification and extreme heat in the North, riverine flooding in the Middle Belt, agricultural vulnerability, gas flaring, and transition risks within the oil sector.
Despite these challenges, Lagos’ top ranking underscores its growing leadership role in climate governance and resilience across West Africa.