Nigeria’s Strategic Transition to Cleaner Energy

Nigeria bears the brunt of decades of severe environmental degradation due to its dependency on oil for fuel. Oil spills, a tragic and common occurrence stemming from pipeline vandalism, operational failures, or inadequate infrastructure, have wreaked havoc on ecosystems and shattered livelihoods. Beyond the immediate devastation, carbon emissions from oil-dependent infrastructure contribute significantly to global climate change. This immense environmental toll, compounded by persistent social unrest fueled by resource control disputes and perceived marginalization, underscores an urgent and undeniable need for a new direction. This blog delves into Nigeria’s vital shift towards a promising future fueled by cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.

Deforestation: A Critical Threat to Sustainable Water Resources

Nigeria, a nation rich in biodiversity, is facing the challenge of water scarcity. A significant, yet often underestimated, contributor to this is deforestation.

Forest ecosystems are integral in sustaining water resources by protecting river catchments, maintaining rainfall patterns, and filtering water naturally. (10) Forests significantly enhance soil moisture retention, minimizing surface runoff, storing considerable volumes of water within their canopy, and facilitating the gradual infiltration and percolation of water into the subsurface (3).

The continuous degradation and clearing of forest reserves in the country disrupts its natural hydrological processes, jeopardizing the sustainability of freshwater resources for millions (8).

Waste Sorting: The Holy Grail of Plastic Recycling

Plastic waste has become an undeniable global crisis, presenting severe environmental and socio-economic challenges. Our modern lives are intricately woven with plastic, making it seemingly impossible to extricate ourselves from its pervasive presence. The production of virgin plastic continues to soar, with estimates suggesting a cumulative volume exceeding 25,000 million metric tons by 2050 if the current 8.4% growth rate persists.

Alarmingly, of all virgin plastic ever produced, only a minuscule 9% is recycled, while 12% is incinerated. The vast majority, a staggering 79%, accumulates in landfills or pollutes our natural environment3. While recycling is theoretically the most preferred method for plastic waste management, allowing for infinite reprocessing, this remains a distant ideal. Currently, only about 10% of all recycled plastic enters a second recycling cycle3. This stark reality implies a continuous influx of virgin plastic into the market, even with increased recycling efforts. The problem is exacerbated by the prevalence of single-use plastics, which are often discarded within a month or less, contributing significantly to environmental accumulation.

Powering a Greener Tomorrow: Highlights from The DinSummit on Nigeria’s Sustainable Future

What if Nigeria could cut its carbon emissions, reduce air pollution, and expand clean energy access all at once? That bold vision took center stage at the 2025 Decarbonizing Infrastructure in Nigeria Summit (DINSUMMIT). With the theme “Unlocking Climate Finance for Sustainable Development,” the summit brought together key players from government, industry, and civil society to accelerate Nigeria’s transition away from carbon-intensive energy sources toward a sustainable, low-carbon economy.

For decades, Nigeria’s infrastructure has relied heavily on diesel and other fossil fuels to power construction, operations, and maintenance, especially in critical facilities like hospitals, schools, and government buildings. This dependency has led to high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, degraded air quality, and increased public health risks. To address this, the government, through the Office of the Vice President launched DINSUMMIT as a strategic response to the environmental and economic challenges posed by fossil fuel reliance.

Decarbonizing Nigeria’s Mining Sector: Strategies for Achieving Net-Zero Emissions

Mining has historically served as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s economic development, with notable resource extraction activities ranging from Tin in Jos and Gold in Zamfara to Lithium in Nasarawa. The country’s substantial endowment of mineral resources presents significant economic opportunities; however, these benefits are accompanied by critical environmental challenges. The mining sector contributes considerably to greenhouse gas emissions, primarily through the combustion of fossil fuels, deforestation, and unsustainable operational practices.