Reps Push For Urgent Transition Low-carbon Economy

The House of Representatives, has called for urgent and coordinated action to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a low-carbon economy
to avert the adverse effects.

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas made the call at a National Decarbonisation Technical Roundtable organised by the House Ad-hoc Committee on the Mandatory National Decarbonisation Programme on Thursday.

Represented by Hon. Muktar Shagaya(APC, Kwara), Abbas warned that the impacts of climate change were already being felt across the country with serious economic and environmental consequences.

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 northern parts of the country are increasingly experiencing drought and desertification, the western region has recorded rising temperatures, while eastern states continue to battle flooding and erosion, with southern parts of the country witnessing increasingly 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 reducing greenhouse gas emissions through nationally determined contributions aimed at limiting global warming.

Abbas 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 per cent of its Gross Domestic Product by 2050 equivalent to about $460 billion.

“As one of Africa’s largest economies and the most populous nation on the continent, Nigeria consistently ranks among the countries most affected by extreme weather events. The economic costs of inaction are enormous and could run into hundreds of billions of naira annually,” he said.

The speaker, however, emphasised that Nigeria’s decarbonisation agenda should not be interpreted as an attempt to undermine the country’s oil and gas sector, which remains a critical pillar of the national economy.

He, however, said the transition provides a strategic opportunity to diversify the economy, build competitive green industries, and attract new investment aligned with global climate priorities.

Also speaking, the director for Africa at the 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.

She 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.

Muchiri said 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 in Nigeria, 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.

Muchiri 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.

“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 the country’s transition to a sustainable, low-carbon economy.

For his part, chairman of the House Committee on the Mandatory National Decarbonisation Programme, Hon. Sesi Whingan (APC, Lagos) said the National Assembly had already enacted several key legislations to support Nigeria’s climate and energy transition efforts.

He identified these as Climate Change Act 2021, the Electricity Act 2023, the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency Act.

Whingan said the House is seeking to complement the climate and green economy initiatives of President BolanTinubu, particularly efforts aimed at unlocking economic opportunities within the emerging carbon market.

He disclosed that the federal government has already approved a National Carbon Market Framework, which is projected to generate between $2.5 billion and $3 billion annually over the next decade.

Whingan said the framework will 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.

“The consultations we are holding are designed to map existing decarbonisation initiatives in Nigeria, identify areas of alignment and collaboration across sectors, and develop a legislative framework that will strengthen investor confidence in the country’s carbon market and broader green economy,” Whingan said.