By Abbas Nazil
The Federal Government has reaffirmed that Nigeria’s shift toward a low-carbon economy will proceed gradually and in line with the country’s economic realities, insisting it cannot abruptly phase out fossil fuels without jeopardising national stability and development.
This position was restated at the COP-30 Follow-Up Action Meeting and the launch of a Climate-Smart Electric Vehicle Recharge Hub in Abuja, where the Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change, Omoteniyoye Majekodunmi, represented by Assistant Chief Chemical Engineer Jummai Vandu, said Nigeria must pursue climate action at a pace that protects livelihoods and economic sovereignty.
She noted that while global pressure mounts for rapid fossil-fuel phase-outs, Nigeria remains heavily dependent on oil revenue and foreign exchange earnings, making a sudden transition unrealistic.
Nigeria’s Just Transition Guideline (2023), she noted, provides a structured roadmap for reducing carbon emissions without undermining jobs or destabilising communities.
Majekodunmi explained that although the country has abundant renewable energy resources such as solar and wind, inadequate infrastructure remains a significant barrier to rapid deployment.
She highlighted initiatives like the BYD Nigeria EV Recharge Hub as examples of the private-sector innovation needed to drive cleaner mobility and strengthen the energy transition.
She added that the NCCC, established under the Climate Change Act 2021, coordinates nationwide climate actions and will support similar EV hubs across the states, stressing that climate solutions must be locally driven, inclusive and supported by strong partnerships.
Chief Executive Officer of Haitong Nigeria Limited and Executive Vice-Chairman of BYD Nigeria, Chief Moses Ayom, said Nigeria must act decisively to avoid falling behind in the global shift to electric mobility.
He said the new hub, capable of fully charging an electric vehicle in 40 minutes, would support government agencies, businesses and private users while creating jobs in EV maintenance and technology.
Ayom described COP-30 as the “COP of truth”, noting that climate commitments must now translate into real action.
He praised President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the FCT’s smart-city drive for creating investor confidence in clean-energy initiatives.
Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps, Shehu Mohammed, represented by Chief Route Commander Christopher Eya, commended the developers for introducing a clean-energy facility compatible with all EV brands, saying electric mobility would reduce pollution and improve public health in both urban and rural areas.
