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What should Nigeria do?

  • Popularise conversations on fossil-fuel divestments and take action to promote that first in-country, and then regionally.
  • Provide robust legislations to encourage investments in renewable energy and production of vehicles and other machineries that run on clean energy.
  • Revamp the agriculture, forest, and other land use sector especially its production and value chain axis to cut down on emissions from this sector.
  • Work with the international community to provide leadership in driving commitments to net zero, climate change mitigation and adaptation, recourse to clean energy sources and alternative and innovative livelihood means, in Africa.
  • Develop a clear plan on how to liquidate potentially stranded assets due to this transition, and have a timeline for this which aligns with her net zero timeline.
  • As a federating country, encourage states-led actions to align with the national objectives.
  • Champion diplomacy for developed countries and IFIs to provide accessible, available, and convenient financing for climate actions, in Africa.

What you need to know about Nigeria?

  • The Nigerian National Council of Climate Change (NCCc) is chaired by Nigerian President, and it is the designated National Authority for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Director General of the NCCC is the UNFCCC National Focal Point
  • Nigeria commence development of “Open Market Carbon Trading Framework and Infrastructure (Phase I)
  • Nigeria has removed fuel importation subsidy and has streamlined its exchange rate
  • The Nigeria’s Climate Change Act 2021 is the first stand-alone comprehensive climate change legislation in West Africa
  • Government is committed to tackling poverty and increasing investment in renewable energy to reduce unemployment
  • Government is committed to using gas as transition fuel in its transition to net zero
  • Debt profile has continue on increasing trend

Recent developments, threats and levers for action

Recent developments

  • Nigeria is currently in transition with a new government settling into power under the new leader
  • Nigeria commence development of “Open Market Carbon Trading Framework and Infrastructure (Phase I)
  • Nigeria amended its constitution to allows states to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity in areas covered by the national grid to promote development of renewable energy.
  • The constitution amendment was followed by the signing into law of the Electricity Act 2023 which allows for the generation and transmission of electricity using renewable energy off-grid and mini-grid solutions.

Strengths

  • Strong civil society and academic base that drive actions.
  • Policies are overarching and cover various sectors. In other words, they are multi-sectorial.
  • There are policies with clear projections on pathways to achieve net zero while boosting sustainable development and growth.
  • Legal backing — the Climate Change Act 2021 provides a legal backing for all actions.
  • Inclusivity is a key staple of the policies on paper

Opportunities

  • Global attention to carbon markets, especially the setting up of the African Carbon Markets Initiative (ACMI)
  • Increasing commitment at the global level for net zero transition and investments in low carbon energy pathways
  • Availability of partnership opportunities that will help provide technical capacity building for stakeholders.
  • Climate Change Act 2021 and the Electricity Act 2023

Weaknesses

  • Nigeria’s climate change policy implementation landscape is characterized by the silo system
  • Poor communication of policy focus to implementers and those at the grassroots.
  • Weak monitoring, evaluation, and reporting systems.
  • A disconnect with the private sector and communities.
  • Weak policy enforcement strategies and structures;
  • Paucity of reliable data that should drive action.

Threats

  • Government indifference.
  • Lack of education and awareness.
  • Lack of funding.
  • Over-reliance on fossil fuel as source of revenue could impede the political will to drive transition.
  • Dearth of technical capacity.
  • Cultural and religious influences which has led to the perception of the impacts of climate change as natural or punishment by the gods.
  • International politics on climate finance

About Climate Diplomacy Snapshots

The data is clear. Accelerated and enhanced action is needed now to build resilience and avoid the worst impacts of climate change. As they seek to address the ongoing health, economic and social impacts of COVID-19, the Ukraine-Russia war and growing climate change impacts, governments should seize opportunities to invest in a recovery that will build social, economic and climate resilience on the long-term. The Climate Diplomacy Snapshots aim to provide the climate community with a clear overview of what each country should do, on climate and recovery, to pursue these joint objectives and keep the global average temperature increase to 1.5°C. Each has been prepared with the help of national experts, and will be regularly updated. The snapshots aim to support climate advocacy in the lead up to COP28.

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