Stakeholders urge unified action for Nigeria’s renewable energy future

Stakeholders in Nigeria’s environmental and energy sectors are calling on governments, civil society organisations, and individuals to come together and invest in the country’s transition to renewable energy.At a conference held in Abuja to mark the 2025 World Earth Day, participants urged significant financial and technical backing from both the public and private sectors to advance the clean energy agenda.Themed “Our Power, Our Planet: From Policy to Action”, the event was organised by Young Professionals in Policy and Development (YouPaD), in partnership with Climate Justice, Creative Culture and Communities for Peace (CCC4Peace).

The initiative also included support from organisations such as TrashMongers, Ecocykle, Basic Rights Watch, the Initiative for Human Rights and Gender Awareness, the Coalition for Socioecological Transformation (CoSET), and the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution.Former Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, observed that many Nigerians remain preoccupied with day-to-day survival and are unable to prioritise lowering their carbon footprint.He argued that for Nigeria to meet its climate ambitions, the government must tackle poverty head-on through focused interventions.



According to him, this would enable citizens to adopt cleaner technologies such as fuel-efficient cookstoves, LPG and biogas systems, home solar units, and electric or compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles.“The government must focus more closely on innovation within energy infrastructure, the strategic use of domestic finance, and the alignment of existing energy policies,” he said.Abdullahi pointed out that while energy systems in developed countries have enabled decades of progress, they have also inflicted environmental harm — heating oceans, accelerating glacier melt, and fuelling extreme climate events that hit poorer countries hardest.

“To make a genuine shift, we must replace short-term thinking with a long-term commitment to restoration,” he said. “The move towards renewable and sustainable energy is not optional; it is a necessity. And with that necessity comes an extraordinary opportunity to lead.

”He further noted that a fair and equitable energy transition must include those typically left behind — vulnerable populations, indigenous groups, and the marginalised. This, he said, includes providing retraining and decent job opportunities for workers affected by the decline of the fossil fuel industry.“The world is confronting an existential crisis caused by unsustainable energy use, climate change, and environmental destruction.

But it is also a moment of historic potential,” he added.Peniel Ibe, Coordinator of CCC4Peace, said the initiative seeks to equip Nigerian youth to engage meaningfully in climate advocacy at both local and international levels. She explained that the programme aims to expose young people to justice-oriented climate solutions and show how these can be adapted within their communities.

“YouPaD provides a space for young people to engage in conversations around policy, climate, security, governance, and development,” she said.She thanked attendees, describing their participation as proof of a shared commitment to securing Nigeria’s future — not just ecologically, but through justice, inclusivity, and collective effort.“World Earth Day is a powerful reminder of our planet’s vulnerability and the strength we possess when we come together,” Ibe said.

“This crisis demands that we reassess our path. We cannot champion fossil fuels and renewables at the same time. We cannot uphold both justice and injustice.

The consequences of doing so — particularly for Nigeria — would be devastating.”Ibe cautioned that while renewable energy efforts are gathering momentum across Nigeria and Africa, the transition must be planned inclusively to avoid entrenching existing inequalities.She explained that the conference forms part of a broader campaign by CCC4Peace and YouPaD aimed at closing the gap between climate policy and the real-life experiences of communities most impacted by environmental change — with a particular emphasis on young people.

“Too often, those most affected by policy are excluded from shaping it. This event aimed to provide a space for diverse voices to respond to one critical question: how do we go beyond policy to achieve meaningful, community-driven action?” she said.She added, “The fight for a safe, liveable Nigeria is not just about science and technology — it’s deeply social, political, and moral.

”Ibe expressed optimism that the dialogue would lead to concrete changes, including in schools, institutional planning, and grassroots collaborations.Other speakers — including David Arinze from the off-grid energy sector, Tengi Ikoli of Natural Resources Governance, and Salaudeen Hashim of the CLEEN Foundation — echoed Abdullahi and Ibe’s perspectives. They underscored the role of effective policy in expanding renewable energy access across Nigeria.

The conference featured a panel discussion and an informal fireside chat exploring how young professionals can actively contribute to Nigeria’s energy transition. Additional sessions focused on strategies to ensure that the shift to renewables remains anchored in environmental justice.The event concluded with a screening of Drifting Away, a documentary series by Simpa Sampson, followed by an open discussion.

Nigeria, a country heavily reliant on fossil fuels, is in the midst of a nationwide effort to diversify its energy portfolio and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This drive is in line with its pledge to reach Net-Zero Emissions by 2060, as outlined in its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and long-term Low Emissions Development Strategy (LT-LEDS).The Nigeria Energy Transition Plan (ETP) is a home-grown, data-informed roadmap designed to guide the country towards a net-zero future.

It targets emissions reductions across five high-impact sectors — Power, Cooking, Oil and Gas, Transport, and Industry — which together account for around 65 per cent of Nigeria’s emissions.Key goals include achieving 250GW of installed electricity capacity by 2050, with 90 per cent sourced from renewables. By the same year, 80 per cent of vehicles are expected to be electric, and clean cooking solutions should reach 80 per cent of households.

The message from the conference was clear: Nigeria’s energy transition must not only be sustainable — it must be just, inclusive, and rooted in the realities of its people.The post Stakeholders urge unified action for Nigeria’s renewable energy future appeared first on Nigerian NewsDirect..