Nigeria’s Energy Initiatives & Green Economy Transition

Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen

Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project

Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/04/24

Prince Xavier Eyamba, Senior Technical Advisor to the Honorable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, discusses Nigeria’s climate initiatives. He highlights Nigeria’s early commitment to the Paris Agreement, the Climate Change Act (2021), and the National Council on Climate Change. Nigeria is advancing solar, wind, and hydro energy while promoting gender-inclusive green economy policies. The LPG Clean Cookstove Initiative aims to transition millions to cleaner cooking. Fuel subsidy removal accelerates the shift to compressed natural gas (CNG) and electric vehicles. Eyamba stresses the need for NGO-government collaboration and international climate funding to scale initiatives for a sustainable energy future in Nigeria.

Scott Douglas Jacobsen: Today, we’re here with Prince Xavier Eyamba. What is your formal professional title?

Prince Xavier Eyamba: Thank you. My formal professional title is Senior Technical Advisor to the Honorable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development..

Jacobsen: What is important for Nigerians and the international community to know about Nigeria about the green economy and anthropogenic climate change?

Eyamba: Nigeria has recognized the effects of climate change. It was one of the first African countries to sign and commit to the Paris Agreement. We enacted our Climate Change Act in 2021 after COP26 in Glasgow. Following our return to Nigeria, we developed a policy and established the National Council on Climate Change, which serves as Nigeria’s regulatory and implementing body for climate action. We are also highly active in Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) initiatives. Thanks to the Honorable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Nigeria has proactively ensured gender inclusivity in climate action efforts.

Climate change is a reality. Weather conditions in Nigeria are becoming increasingly severe. Temperatures are rising, humidity is intensifying, and rainfall patterns have become unpredictable. The consequences of climate change are undeniable.

We have witnessed the impact of climate security on Nigerians, particularly women and children. Drought and desertification have forced farmers to migrate southward, leading to agricultural conflicts. As a result, many women are displaced and end up in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps. These harsh realities underscore the urgent need for action, and we are implementing measures to address them.

Regarding the green economy, we are developing policies promoting gender-inclusive sustainability roles. His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, is committed to advancing these initiatives. Under the leadership of the Honorable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu, significant efforts are being made to drive the green economy forward.

For example, in the area of energy transition, the Minister has formed a committee to reduce the use of firewood for cooking. This initiative is a crucial first step in mitigating deforestation by decreasing reliance on wood and kerosene. By preventing tree-cutting, we reduce deforestation and improve household air quality by lowering emissions from firewood. Our focus is empowering women with sustainable alternatives and ensuring healthier living conditions within their homes.

Another initiative the Honorable Minister is pursuing is the establishment of entrepreneurship programs for women in the green economy. This includes the adoption of solar energy and involvement in manufacturing, implementation, and skill development to help them scale up. We are also bringing together women from various climate and green economy sectors to form clusters, allowing them to drive initiatives that create jobs and establish themselves in this space.

One key program is the Nigerian Women Scale-Up LPG Initiative, which aims to transition one to five million households from traditional, high-emission cooking methods—what we call “dirty cooking”—to cleaner, more sustainable alternatives. We are looking at how to make this transition sustainable.

Jacobsen: When it comes to reducing harmful emissions from wood-burning and its role in deforestation, these are practical efforts that individuals can undertake with the support of government policy to combat climate change and facilitate a transition to a greener economy. What about large-scale manufacturing or other industries?

Eyamba: Yes, for example, the Honorable Minister is developing a Green Economy Program, which focuses on reducing fossil fuel use in the transportation sector. We are also working on setting up assembly and manufacturing plants to facilitate the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy sources such as LPG. The Nigerian government is mainly focused on compressed natural gas due to its available resources, and we are also promoting the adoption of electric vehicles.

When companies establish manufacturing or assembly plants, we aim to ensure gender inclusivity in skills training and employment. For example, we are exploring ways to train and integrate 50 women into assembly factory plants to increase female participation in this field.

I have personally engaged with the Rural Electrification Agency to emphasize the need for women’s involvement in electrification projects. It is rare to see a woman working in solar system installation, just as it is uncommon to see female plumbers in certain parts of the world. However, change is happening gradually.

We are raising awareness, conducting outreach, and expanding efforts to address broader environmental issues such as drought and desertification. Change takes time, but we are making progress.

What types of crops can we cultivate to mitigate the effects of desertification, prevent drought from encroaching on the region, and support women in agriculture through government policies and programs? This is a 360-degree shift from the norm. It is no longer business as usual. We are taking active, proactive steps to implement change. That is the essence of our approach.

Jacobsen: Now, I’m Canadian, and I’m not sure if this occurs in Canada. However, I know that in the United States, subsidies are provided to oil and gas companies. This creates a challenge when attempting to transition to a greener economy because there are no government-imposed restrictions on fossil fuels—metaphorically speaking, there is only an incentive to continue their use. Are there similar or identical barriers within the Nigerian economy preventing the transition to sustainable energy?

Eyamba: When His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took his first action, he was to remove the subsidy on fossil fuels. This was a significant shock to the people but a necessary step. To ease the financial burden of this transition, we are implementing initiatives and programs that promote alternative energy sources.

For example, several factories are being established across Nigeria to create pathways for sustainable transportation, ensuring that vehicles powered by cleaner energy sources become more accessible. However, affordability remains a concern. As I mentioned earlier, one of the key transitions involves converting fossil fuel engines to compressed natural gas (CNG).

Removing the fuel subsidy is a crucial step forward because it forces us to seek alternative transportation and energy solutions. We are also exploring ways to reduce Nigeria’s carbon footprint in the power sector. The President has prioritized natural gas, which produces lower emissions while still a fossil fuel. This transition allows us to document and track our national economic contributions to emission reductions, aligning with our international commitments.

However, we recognize that to fully meet our Paris Agreement obligations, we must move toward greener alternatives. That is why we are advancing multiple green initiatives, such as the LPG Clean Cookstove Initiative Program and the upcoming Green Cooking Initiative Program, which will be entirely sustainable. These will include biofuel, biogas, hydrogen cookstoves, and electric cookstoves—all of which represent a completely green approach.

That said, the transition must be just and gradual. Nigeria has relied entirely on fossil fuels since its independence and even before that. We cannot abruptly switch to green energy overnight. Under the leadership and guidance of our Honorable Minister, we are working to implement policies that ensure a structured and effective transition toward sustainability. That is our current focus.

Jacobsen: Nigeria is not like Scotland or Ireland, where there is perpetual—even excessive—rain and cloud cover, which could make solar energy less viable. As you’ve noted, rainfall patterns in Nigeria are becoming increasingly unpredictable. Do you think that, despite the projected increase in climate change, Nigeria and other countries closer to the equator could turn this assumption around and increase solar adoption due to greater sun exposure and a more consistent solar constant?

Eyamba: Nigeria has made significant progress in adopting solar energy for its power needs. The Rural Electrification Agency (REA) has been actively promoting off-grid solar solutions for households. Additionally, various organizations are distributing solar kit packs, which provide electricity for basic needs such as charging phones, powering small refrigerators, and other essential household uses, particularly for underprivileged communities.

Beyond solar, Nigeria is also investing in wind energy. We established the Wind Energy Council in mid-2023, forming a dedicated committee to drive its development. Private organizations like Oando Clean Energy have been actively involved in this initiative. I have worked with them previously and continue to collaborate with them. They have conducted studies to identify high-potential wind energy sites across Nigeria.

For example, we conducted a wind potential assessment in Cross River State, which determined that we could generate 350 megawatts of electricity exclusively from wind energy in that region. Similar assessments are being conducted for solar energy as well. These efforts highlight Nigeria’s commitment to diversifying its renewable energy sources and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.

Besides solar and wind energy, Nigeria also utilizes hydropower, which provides us with multiple green energy sources. The challenge lies in effectively harnessing and scaling these resources.

Developed countries must honour their pledges and make climate funds more accessible. They must also collaborate with the government to ensure that these resources reach the people who need them most. When governments are involved, they can help scale these initiatives to create a greater impact.

Currently, numerous NGOs operate in silos, claiming to implement various environmental projects, yet they often fail to engage with the government. As a result, much of their work remains unrecorded. Many receive significant funding from the United Nations and other international bodies, but the government is often unaware of these financial disbursements or how the funds are being utilized. This lack of coordination prevents the government from supporting and expanding these programs.

Several structural issues need to be addressed. That is why I emphasize the need for NGOs and foundations to work collaboratively with the government rather than operating independently. Transparency and cooperation are essential to ensure a smooth transition to a green economy and implement effective sustainability programs.

That said, Nigeria is making steady progress. Change takes time, but we are moving forward in the right direction.

Jacobsen: Xavier, thank you very much for your time today. I appreciate it.

Eyamba: Thank you, thank you.

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