In a major boost to Nigeria’s climate resilience efforts, the United Kingdom has announced a £19 million funding package to upgrade schools and healthcare centres across climate-vulnerable regions of the country.
The announcement was made during the joint inauguration of 84 renovated facilities under the Climate Resilient Infrastructure for Basic Services (CRIBS) initiative—a partnership between the UK Government, Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health, state governments in Kano and Jigawa, and UNICEF.
Launched in April 2024, CRIBS is designed to shield essential services from the escalating impacts of climate change—especially for children. Nigeria is ranked second globally for climate-related risks to children, with millions facing regular threats from flooding, drought, and extreme heat.
So far, the initiative has upgraded 39 primary healthcare centres and 45 schools in Kano and Jigawa States using climate adaptation techniques such as improved drainage, water storage, ventilation, and sustainable energy sources.
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The UK-funded programme is now expanding to Bauchi, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna, and Katsina States.
“This initiative shows how climate-resilient infrastructure can improve access to basic services for vulnerable populations,” said Cynthia Rowe, Head of Development Cooperation at the British High Commission in Abuja. “We hope this model inspires broader replication across Nigeria.”
The inauguration event featured ribbon-cuttings, site tours, and community engagement activities, highlighting how low-cost, scalable solutions can protect services in the face of climate change.
UNICEF’s Representative in Nigeria, Wafaa Saeed, hailed the programme as “a testament to what strong partnerships can achieve.”
“By investing in climate-smart infrastructure, we are not only protecting services but also empowering communities to safeguard their children’s future,” she said.
