By Paul Effiong, Abuja
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas has advocated for urgent and coordinated action to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a low-carbon economy, warning that the impact of climate change is currently being felt across the country with serious economic and environmental effects.
Abbas stated this Thursday while declaring open, a one-day National Decarbonisation Technical Roundtable organised by the House Committee on Mandatory National Decarbonisation Programme.
Represented by Muktar Shagaya, the speaker said climate change is no longer a distant or theoretical threat, but a present reality affecting communities across Nigeria through extreme weather conditions and environmental disruptions.
He noted that while the northern part of the country is increasingly experiencing drought and desertification, the western region is recording rising temperatures, while eastern states continue to battle flooding and erosion, with the southern part witnessing increasing irregular rainfall patterns.
“Climate change is real and its impact is no longer something we will face in the future; it is already here. From drought in the north to flooding and erosion in the east, and abnormal rainfall patterns in the south, climate change has become a lived experience for Nigerians,” Abbas said.
He noted that global action on climate change has intensified since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, where 196 countries, including Nigeria, committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through nationally determined contributions aimed at limiting global warming.
The speaker warned that failure to respond decisively could have devastating economic implications for the country, particularly for sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure and energy that are highly vulnerable to climate-related disruptions.
Citing global estimates, he said climate inaction could cost Nigeria up to 30 percent of its Gross Domestic Product, GDP, by 2050 equivalent to about $460 billion.
In her remarks, the Director for Africa, Global Wind Energy Council, Wangari Muchiri said Nigeria’s growing commitment to decarbonisation presents significant opportunities for economic diversification, job creation and increased investment in clean energy.
Muchiri described the transition to a low-carbon economy as critical for Nigeria, particularly given the carbon-intensive nature of major sectors such as oil and gas and agriculture.
According to her, the global shift toward cleaner energy systems presents Nigeria with an opportunity to reposition itself economically by tapping into the rapidly expanding carbon economy.
“The decarbonisation agenda for Nigeria is really critical. Many sectors, including oil and gas and agriculture, are very carbon-heavy. But in today’s global economy, this presents a big opportunity for Nigeria to capitalise on the carbon economy, create jobs and bring new income into the sector,” she said.
She noted that the engagement between lawmakers, technical experts and international partners is aimed at strengthening the national conversation around decarbonisation and fostering coordinated action across sectors.
Muchiri added that Nigeria has already demonstrated readiness to pursue the transition, citing commitments made by President Bola Tinubu at international climate fora, including the United Nations Climate Change Conference.
According to her, government’s policy direction has encouraged international partners and private sector stakeholders to support Nigeria’s clean energy transition.
“I think one of the things we are seeing is that Nigeria is ready. The president has said on several occasions, including at COP last year, that Nigeria is prepared for a decarbonisation agenda. We are excited to see many partners ready to walk this journey with the country,” she said.
Muchiri called on development partners, investors and technical experts to deepen their support for Nigeria through financing, knowledge transfer and technical capacity development to accelerate its transition to a sustainable and low-carbon economy.
Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on the Mandatory National Decarbonisation Programme, Sesi Whingan said the ongoing legislative initiative is aimed at establishing a comprehensive national framework to drive Nigeria’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
Whingan explained that the roundtable marks the beginning of a structured national engagement process designed to build consensus among policymakers, regulators, industry leaders, development partners and civil society organisations on the pathway toward implementing a mandatory national decarbonisation programme.
According to him, the National Assembly has already enacted several key legislations to support Nigeria’s climate and energy transition efforts, including the Climate Change Act 2021, the Electricity Act 2023, the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency Act.
He added that the House is seeking to complement the climate and green economy initiatives of President Tinubu, particularly efforts aimed at unlocking economic opportunities within the emerging carbon market.
Whingan disclosed that the federal government had already approved a National Carbon Market Framework, which is projected to generate between $2.5 billion and $3 billion annually over the next decade.
The framework, he explained, would establish rules for carbon credit registration, issuance, and verification while encouraging emission-reduction projects in sectors such as forestry, renewable energy, clean cooking technologies, and climate-smart agriculture.
