On July 15, 2025, Nigeria laid to rest one of its most enduring national figures, President Muhammadu Buhari, in his hometown of Daura, Katsina State. The day was marked by solemn prayers, military honors, and public tributes that transcended politics and region. Yet beyond the familiar stories of discipline and integrity, there is another side to President Buhari’s legacy, one not often in the limelight, but deeply consequential: his transformative impact on the environment.
During his presidency from 2015 to 2023, President Buharireshaped Nigeria’s approach to environmental sustainability, climate governance, and ecological restoration. At a time when global attention turned urgently toward climate change, desertification, and energy transition, Buhari positioned Nigeria not just as a participant in these conversations but as a regional leader and a nation committed to long-term ecological resilience.
The Climate Change Act: A Landmark Achievement
Among Buhari’s most important environmental contributions was the signing of Nigeria’s first Climate Change Act in November 2021. This single piece of legislation laid the groundwork for how Nigeria would address the defining challenge of the 21st century climate change.
The Climate Change Act created the National Council on Climate Change, a high-level body tasked with coordinating Nigeria’s climate strategy across all levels of government and sectors. It mandated annual carbon budgeting, emissions tracking, and integration of climate goals into national development planning. The law provided institutional permanence to climate action in Nigeria, beyond any individual administration.
By enacting this framework, Buhari ensured that environmental policy would no longer depend solely on the goodwill of leaders or short-term interventions. It became law, enforceable and protected, signaling that Nigeria was ready to lead the green conversation on the African continent.
Net-Zero by 2060: A Vision for the Future
At the COP26 United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Glasgow in 2021, President Buhari made history by announcing Nigeria’s commitment to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by the year 2060. This declaration was both ambitious and strategic, it balanced Nigeria’s development needs with its global responsibilities.
The net-zero pledge was anchored on a carefully developed Energy Transition Plan, which focused on reducing dependence on fossil fuels, investing in renewable energy, promoting clean cooking, and ensuring inclusive access to modern energy. Buhari’s leadership showed that Nigeria was prepared to act decisively while ensuring no community was left behind in the pursuit of clean energy.
Importantly, his government emphasized a “just transition”, a term that reflected his understanding of Nigeria’s socioeconomic realities. He insisted that while climate action was vital, it must also be equitable, ensuring that vulnerable populations had access to energy, employment, and development opportunities as the country moved away from carbon-heavy industries.
The “Decade of Gas” Initiative
To support the country’s energy transformation, President Buhari unveiled the “Decade of Gas” (2021–2030), a flagship initiative designed to accelerate the use of natural gas as a transition fuel. Under this initiative, his administration invested in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) distribution, compressed natural gas (CNG) transport systems, and gas-to-power infrastructure.
Natural gas, abundant in Nigeria, was positioned as a cleaner, economically viable alternative to coal and diesel. Buhari’s plan was practical: transition gradually by maximizing existing resources while laying the foundation for solar, wind, and hydro alternatives. The initiative reduced harmful emissions and brought cleaner cooking options to households that previously depended on firewood helping mitigate deforestation and respiratory diseases caused by indoor air pollution.
His emphasis on gas was not only about technology it was about dignity. It reflected a vision where rural communities could cook cleanly, schools could be powered sustainably, and industries could thrive without sacrificing environmental health.
Combating Desertification: The Great Green Wall Initiative
A standout feature of President Buhari’s environmental agenda was his commitment to Nigeria’s role in the African Union’s Great Green Wall Initiative an ambitious project aimed at halting the southward expansion of the Sahara Desert by restoring degraded land across the Sahel.
Under his administration, Nigeria intensified efforts to restore millions of hectares of land in the northern states, especially in areas like Yobe, Borno, Sokoto, and Katsina. The government invested in tree planting, water retention technologies, irrigation projects, and agroforestry programs that improved soil health and agricultural productivity.
The initiative also had important social impacts. It created jobs for rural youth, empowered women through sustainable agriculture programs, and enhanced food security for vulnerable communities. By planting trees and restoring ecosystems, Buhari helped plant hope literally and figuratively across drought-prone regions of the country.
His efforts were recognized internationally, as Nigeria became one of the most active contributors to the Great Green Wall. Under his leadership, it was no longer just a symbolic idea; it became a tangible engine of environmental renewal and economic empowerment.
Forest Protection and Charcoal Export Ban
Understanding the direct relationship between deforestation and climate vulnerability, President Buhari’s administration took concrete steps to preserve Nigeria’s forests. In 2018, his government implemented a nationwide ban on charcoal exports, curbing the unregulated harvesting of trees for commercial fuel.
This move, although quietly introduced, significantly reduced illegal logging and encouraged more sustainable alternatives for domestic energy use. The ban also gave room for afforestation programs especially in regions where forest degradation threatened biodiversity and livelihoods.
Additionally, his administration supported state-led and private-sector tree planting initiatives, ensuring that forests were not only protected but replenished. In places like Cross River and Ogun states, community-based forest management schemes flourished under federal support.
Solar Power and Renewable Energy Expansion
Though often overshadowed by other national priorities, Buhari’s presidency witnessed a notable expansion in off-grid solar power projects, particularly in underserved and rural areas. His administration facilitated partnerships with development agencies and investors to provide solar mini-grids, home systems, and streetlights to communities that had never experienced stable electricity.
The Rural Electrification Agency (REA), supported under Buhari, spearheaded solar projects that reduced dependence on diesel generators and improved quality of life for thousands of households and small businesses. From markets in Anambra to schools in Kano, solar power became a symbol of progress.
These efforts reflected Buhari’s deep belief in environmental justice that development must be inclusive and must extend to those on the margins.
Environmental Diplomacy and International Engagement
President Buhari’s environmental leadership extended beyond Nigeria’s borders. He represented Nigeria at various climate summits, UN meetings, and African environmental forums, advocating for Africa’s fair share of climate finance and green technology. His voice became a powerful reminder that the continent contributes least to global emissions but suffers most from its impacts.
He championed the call for climate finance, urging developed nations to fulfill their pledges and support countries like Nigeria in building resilient infrastructure and responding to natural disasters. Buhari’s speeches emphasized cooperation, equity, and the moral responsibility of the global community.
A Legacy Rooted in the Land
Looking back, President Muhammadu Buhari may not have always been seen as an environmentalist in the traditional sense. He did not wear the badge of an activist or deliver grand, impassioned speeches on ecology. But his policies, decisions, and quiet commitment spoke volumes.
He understood that the environment was not separate from governance, it was the foundation of national prosperity. He recognized that healthy soils grow healthy economies, that clean air improves productivity, and that preserving forests is an act of national defense.
Under his leadership, the environment moved from the sidelines to the center of national planning. He mainstreamed sustainability in government thinking, and built institutional frameworks that will continue to serve Nigeria, long after his passing.
In conclusion, as Nigeria reflects on the life and legacy of President Muhammadu Buhari, there will be many chapters to tell from military service to anti-corruption crusades. But one of the most enduring stories will be of a man who planted trees not just in the ground, but in the structure of governance itself.
He legislated for the future, prepared the land, and empowered communities to reclaim their environment. He taught us that environmental stewardship is not the work of a ministry alone, it is the responsibility of a nation.
Now, as he lies at rest in the soils of Daura, the earth he served so faithfully carries his memory not just in monuments or headlines, but in green canopies, restored lands, and cleaner air. His legacy lives in every farmer harvesting from rejuvenated fields, every household using cleaner energy, and every tree rooted in the drylands of the North.
May Late President Muhammadu Buhari rest in peace.
And may Nigeria continue to reap the environmental harvest of his thoughtful and lasting leadership.
