Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has called on state governments to prioritise investment in cleaner and greener communities by ensuring proper waste disposal and keeping drainage channels free of plastic waste and other obstructions to reduce the risk of flooding.

The appeal was contained in an update issued by her office on the Renewed Hope Initiative Green Nigeria Challenge, a nationwide environmental competition aimed at transforming degraded community spaces, including dumpsites, landfills and abandoned areas, into green parks, gardens and other eco-friendly spaces.

According to the statement, the community category of the competition has officially closed after no significant entries were received from states before the July 15 deadline.

The First Lady commended the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, for the remodelling of the Abuja City Gate, describing it as a notable landmark and an example of the type of environmental transformation the initiative seeks to promote.

She encouraged households and state governments to participate in the household and state categories of the Green Nigeria Challenge, which remain open until December 20, 2026.

Interested participants are expected to submit their entries through the offices of the wives of their respective state governors, while additional information on the competition is available through the Renewed Hope Initiative.