Sustainability and climate action must be embedded across all sectors of the economy to ensure long-term development and economic resilience.

Sam Onuigbo, chairman of the committee on security, climate change and special interventions at the North-East Development Commission, said this in an interview at a book launch.

The book was written by Chika Chukwudi, an expert in the blue economy.

“Climate action has evolved from a mere policy aspiration into a national imperative due to Nigeria’s increasing climate vulnerability. I remain deeply conscious that Nigeria’s future hinges on how effectively climate action is embedded in all sectors of the economy.

“This publication comes at a defining moment in Nigeria’s developmental journey, when sustainability is no longer aspirational but foundational to our economic resilience, environmental stewardship, and intergenerational prosperity.

“President Bola Tinubu made this clear when he stated, “The fight against climate change is not merely an environmental necessity but a global economic opportunity. It is within this robust legal, policy, and institutional framework that the blue economy finds its strongest expression as a catalyst for sustainable growth.”

Mr Onuigbo urged Nigerians and policymakers to ensure that they mainstream climate actions in all their development plans.

Mr Onuigbo said that the present administration has demonstrated commendable resolve in implementing the Climate Change Act as a guiding light for national climate action.

Mr Onuigbo added that the ministry reflects a deliberate policy shift towards recognising marine and aquatic resources as central to sustainable national development.

He said that the blue economy, therefore, represents far more than the sustainable use of marine and aquatic resources, adding that it is a gateway to economic diversification, climate resilience, job creation, and long-term national competitiveness.

Mr Onuigbo called on the Federal Ministry of Education to explore avenues to implement Section 26 of the Act, which mandates integrating climate change across all disciplines and subjects at all educational levels.

(NAN)