Megacity Lagos State, the largest urban area in Africa and the economic powerhouse of West Africa, became the newest member of ICLEI in Africa on Friday 20 January 2012. Lagos State comprises 20 Local Government Areas and 37 Local Council Development Areas, all of which come together as 5 principle administrative divisions under the State Government.
The relationship between the ICLEI Africa Secretariat and Lagos State Government had been developing for a considerable time.
In September 2011, the very successful African Mayoral Climate Change Declaration – West African pre-COP17 Congress was hosted by the Governor of Lagos, His Excellency Babatunde Raji Fashola with the expert help of the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, and in partnership with ICLEI Africa.
The highlight of this event was the signing of the "African Mayors Climate Change Declaration", led by His Excellency the Governor. This was supported by the Lagos Declaration and called for due recognition of the role of local governments in international climate change debate and implementation.
The outcomes of this Congress fed into the recent Durban Local Government Convention, strategically timed to take place during the UNFCCC COP17/CMP7 in Durban, South Africa. Here too, the representatives of Lagos State were actively involved in pushing the process forward, and were instrumental in the drafting and signing of the Durban Adaptation Charter.
This political commitment to strengthen local resilience to climate change was signed by 114 mayors and other elected local leaders, representing over 950 local governments from around the world.
Lagos State's membership in ICLEI is a suitable and much welcomed follow up on the State's growing role on the continent. We hope it will consolidate Lagos's position as a leading Megacity in Africa, driving sustainable development forward.
