Esther Salifu
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has called on world leaders to demonstrate unity, courage, and unwavering commitment in addressing the escalating global climate crisis.
His appeal came during a high-level virtual dialogue on climate and the just transition, co-hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to a development model where climate action and economic growth go hand-in-hand.
“The global climate emergency demands our collective, courageous, and sustained leadership,” Tinubu stated. “For Nigeria, the urgency of this moment is clear: we view climate action not as a cost to development, but as a strategic imperative.”
The meeting brought together leaders from 17 countries—including China, members of the European Union, and key regional blocs such as the African Union, ASEAN, and the Alliance of Small Island States—as momentum builds ahead of COP30, scheduled to be hosted by Brazil.
Speaking from Abuja, President Tinubu highlighted Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP) as a pragmatic roadmap toward net-zero emissions by 2060. The plan targets five core sectors: power, cooking, transportation, oil and gas, and industry. It also identifies a financing need of over $410 billion to achieve its goals.
“To support this, we are aligning our regulatory frameworks, fiscal incentives, and institutions to ensure energy access, decarbonisation, and economic competitiveness progress in lockstep,” Tinubu said, emphasizing Nigeria’s leadership role in expanding energy access.
He pointed to Nigeria’s anchor role in the Mission 300 initiative—partnered with the World Bank and African Development Bank—which aims to deliver electricity to 300 million Africans by 2030. Tinubu also cited Nigeria’s National Energy Compact and participation in the Dar es Salaam Declaration as evidence of the country’s reform-driven commitment to clean energy solutions.
As part of these reforms, President Tinubu announced the finalisation of the Nigeria Carbon Market Activation Policy in March 2025. The policy is expected to unlock up to $2.5 billion by 2030 through high-integrity carbon credits and associated investments.
Nigeria is also updating its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, with a revised version set to be presented by September 2025.
“Our climate strategy is not just about planning—it is rooted in market reform,” Tinubu said. He revealed plans to launch a Global Climate Change Investment Fund aimed at mobilizing public and private capital to finance green infrastructure and climate-smart projects across Nigeria.
The fund will focus on national priorities such as green industrial hubs, e-mobility, regenerative agriculture, and renewable energy mini-grids for underserved communities.
President Tinubu concluded by thanking international partners, particularly the United Nations and Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL), for their technical and advisory support.
“These partnerships are a shining example of multilateral cooperation in climate delivery. We are prepared to collaborate, lead, and deliver—because the time for climate action is not tomorrow; it is now,” he said.
