By Abbas Nazil
Nigeria is seeking to strengthen its transition towards cleaner energy through efforts to reduce gas flaring, expand renewable energy investments and address energy poverty as the 31st United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP31) opens in Antalya, Türkiye.
The conference, scheduled for 9 to 20 November 2026, provides an opportunity for Nigeria to showcase its climate policies and achievements while seeking increased international financing and technological support to accelerate sustainable development.
Nigeria’s climate transition efforts are expected to feature prominently in discussions around clean energy, electrification, methane reduction, green industrialisation, food security and climate-resilient development.
The country, which became a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in 1994 and ratified the Kyoto Protocol in 2004, has progressively introduced policies and institutional frameworks to align its domestic climate actions with international commitments.
A significant development in this direction was the enactment of the Climate Change Act 2021, which established a framework for coordinating climate policies across government institutions and advancing the country’s long-term emissions reduction ambitions.
Nigeria has also introduced regulatory measures to address gas flaring, one of its longstanding environmental challenges as a major oil and gas producer.
The Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and the 2023 Gas Flaring Regulations strengthened restrictions and penalties against routine gas flaring while encouraging the commercial utilisation of associated natural gas.
These measures have supported investments in gas gathering, processing and utilisation infrastructure, although gas flaring remains an environmental concern, particularly in oil-producing communities affected by air pollution and other associated impacts.
According to Moses Omorogbe, Company Secretary and Legal Adviser of Linkage Assurance Plc, Nigeria has reduced the proportion of associated gas flared from approximately 80 per cent to seven per cent over the past 35 years, reflecting improvements in regulatory enforcement and industry practices.
However, the country’s energy transition remains complicated by widespread energy poverty, unreliable electricity supply and dependence on petrol and diesel generators by households and businesses.
Consequently, natural gas continues to feature in Nigeria’s energy development strategy as a potential transition fuel while renewable energy infrastructure is expanded.
Investment in solar power, mini-grids and clean cooking technologies has increasingly become part of efforts to improve electricity access, reduce emissions and strengthen national energy security.
Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, developed following its commitment to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060, provides a broader framework for addressing climate change while expanding access to affordable and reliable energy.
The plan outlines strategies for expanding clean energy generation, improving energy efficiency, modernising transportation systems, promoting sustainable industrial development and reducing emissions across major economic sectors.
Beyond the energy sector, Nigeria has also pursued environmental initiatives involving afforestation, climate-smart agriculture, improved waste management and measures to strengthen resilience against flooding, drought and desertification.
The National Forest Policy 2019 provides a framework for the sustainable management of forest resources to increase their economic, social and environmental benefits for present and future generations.
Similarly, the National Environmental (Desertification Control and Drought Mitigation) Regulations 2011 identify the attainment of 25 per cent national forest cover, as prescribed by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), as one of their objectives.
These interventions are particularly important as Nigeria continues to face environmental challenges, including desertification in the north, flooding in several regions, coastal erosion and declining agricultural productivity.
For African countries, the transition towards cleaner energy must also address developmental challenges, particularly limited electricity access, inadequate infrastructure and insufficient financing.
Although the continent contributes a relatively small proportion of global greenhouse gas emissions, it remains highly vulnerable to climate-related disasters and continues to demand greater financial assistance, technology transfer and adaptation support from developed countries.
COP31 therefore offers Nigeria an opportunity to strengthen international partnerships, attract investments into renewable energy and demonstrate how its domestic climate policies can support economic development while reducing environmental degradation.
Ultimately, Nigeria’s progress towards a sustainable energy future will depend on effective implementation of its climate policies, stronger investment in renewable energy, improved electricity access and international cooperation capable of addressing the financial and technological barriers confronting its transition.
