AFC launches $150m climate fund for Nigerian infrastructure

AFC Capital Partners, a subsidiary of the Africa Finance Corporation, has launched a $150 million Infrastructure Climate-Resilient Fund in Nigeria after obtaining regulatory approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission. The closed-end vehicle is designed to channel domestic institutional capital into green infrastructure projects across the country and is part of a larger $750 million pan-African climate initiative.

The fund aims to attract investments from pension fund administrators, insurance firms, and sovereign wealth funds, with a total project financing pool of $3.7 billion. AFC Capital Partners Nigeria's Chief Financial Officer, Chika Dotimi-Beke, emphasized the immediate priority of capital raising and deployment, with the first investment expected before the end of the year.

The fund will target investments in transport and renewable energy sectors. Addressing the economic impact of climate change, AFC Capital Partners' Chief Risk Officer, David Johnson, revealed that Africa suffers an estimated $200 billion in annual losses due to climate disruptions, with Nigeria facing significant challenges such as flooding and rising temperatures affecting transport networks.