Without a doubt, climate change is one of the biggest global issues in the 21st century. It is one of the cruel ironies of life that Africa, which has contributed the least to the climate change problem, it is the continent likely to suffer the most from its adverse effects. While global coordination for dealing with climate change is a must, individual nations have also generally drawn up their policies for dealing with climate change at a national level. Nigeria hasn’t been left out of this national level activity. Its national policy on climate change is what we will be reviewing in this article.
Nigeria’s early attempts to tackle climate change were fragmentary and indirect coming mainly through environment protection laws and sustainable development plans. Some of these were even prior to the return of democracy in 1999. For example, laws banning gas flaring have officially existed since 1984 but they were rarely enforced. Nigeria’s fragmentary approach gave way to a more integrated, strategic approach aligned with global climate goals. The first major milestone in accordance with the new direction was Nigeria’s ratifying of the Kyoto protocol in 2004, thus committing to global climate action but without binding emission targets as a developing country.
Also in 2004, the federal government introduced the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan. This was a framework to for conserving biodiversity, managing ecosystems sustainably, and aligning national efforts with global environmental goals—especially the UN Convention on Biological Diversity.
In 2005, the then President, Olusegun Obasanjo, who was also the chairman of the African Union (AU) at the time, proposed to the 5th Ordinary Summit of the AU, an initiative for the establishment of a ‘Green Wall for the Sahara”. This was a project to combat desertification in the Sahel region and hold back the expansion of the Sahara Desert. In terms of land mass, the goal is to restore 100 million hectares of degraded land.
Other goals of the project include:
- To enhance environmental sustainability
- To control land degradation
- To promote integrated natural resource management
- To conserve biological diversity
- To contribute to poverty reduction
- To create jobs
As of 2024, about 30 million hectares have been restored, completing 30% of the target.
Also in 2005, the federal government introduced the National Policy on Erosion, Flood Control and Coastal Zone Management. This policy was meant to address the issues of land degradation, hydro-meteorological disasters, and shoreline vulnerability. The policy is intertwined with climate change legislation in that both policies aim to reduce vulnerability to climate-induced hazards like flooding, coastal erosion, and land degradation.
The above mentioned policies were followed in 2007 with the National Policy on Drought and Desertification, Drought Preparedness Plan (NPDD), strategic frameworks for tackling land degradation, desert encroachment, and the increasing threat of drought—especially in the northern regions. The Drought and Desertification part of the policy aims to:
- Mitigate desertification and drought impacts through sustainable land use and proactive planning.
- Promote reforestation, afforestation, and conservation in desert-prone areas.
- Encourage alternative energy sources (solar, wind, briquettes) to reduce reliance on fuelwood.
- Support sustainable agriculture and water resource management in vulnerable zones.
While the Drought Preparedness part aims to:
- Assess drought conditions using early warning systems.
- Identify vulnerable sectors and communities most at risk.
- Develop mitigation actions and long-term resilience strategies.
- Mainstream gender considerations in drought response and planning.
- Break the cycle of costly emergency interventions by shifting to proactive risk management
The policy directly supports Nigeria’s goal to build resilience against climate-induced hazards like drought, desertification, and land degradation.
Another notable development took place in 2009. The Nigerian Academy of Sciences, along with half of the world’s scientific academies, met and released an Inter-Academy Statement on Tropical Forests and Climate Change. Key points made in the statement include:
- There can be no solution to climate change without addressing deforestation
- Deforestation must be addressed now, not later, if we are to meet an 80% CO2 reduction target by 2050.
- Forests play a critical role in the climate system by providing a natural carbon capture and storage function and by regulating rainfall patterns; sustainable forest management can make a major contribution to climate change mitigation.
- Deforestation of tropical forests accounts for around 17% of global CO2 emissions: a failure to address this source of emissions will significantly comprise global efforts to tackle climate change.
- Intact and healthy forests provide food, energy, water, shelter and flood protection services, reducing the vulnerability of rural populations to climate change and enabling adaptation to climate impacts.
- Funding developing countries to maintain their forests, using already available methodologies, capacity and funds, will offer new opportunities for generating employment and ending poverty.
- Any agreement reached must respect the rights of forest dwellers and forest dependent peoples when designing and implementing schemes, and promote sustainable development pathways that do not involve deforestation.
In 2010/11 Nigeria launched its first dedicated climate change framework, the National Adaptation Strategy and Plan of Action for Climate Change in Nigeria (NASPA-CCN). The framework was meant to guide Nigeria’s response to the impacts of climate change, especially in vulnerable sectors like agriculture, water resources, health, and disaster risk management. Key aims of the framework are:
- Strengthening climate resilience across communities
- Promoting sustainable development practices
- Integrating adaptation into national and sectoral planning
NASPA-CCN laid the foundation for Nigeria’s later climate policies, including its the Climate Change Act of 2021. Its implementation was limited by funding and institutional capacity.
In 2012, Nigeria launched the National Climate Change Policy and Response Strategy (NCCPRS). The goal of the policy was to:
- Encourage emissions reduction in key sectors (energy, transport, agriculture)
- Promote climate-resilient development
- Increase public awareness and stakeholder engagement
In 2015, Nigeria signed onto the Paris Agreement, which was a landmark international treaty representing a global commitment to combat climate change and accelerate actions toward a sustainable, low-carbon future. In signing this treaty, Nigeria pledged to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance climate resilience. Each signee country submits its own climate action plan outlining how it will reduce emissions and adapt to climate change. These plans are updated every five years to reflect greater ambition. Nigeria has committed to reducing emissions by 20% unconditionally and 45% conditionally by 2030.
Between 2017 and 2020, Nigeria pursued a raft of climate change initiatives including its Low Emission Development Strategy (LEDS) and its Green Bond Program, the first of its kind in Africa. These are two cornerstone initiatives driving the country’s transition to a climate-resilient, low-carbon economy. They work hand-in-hand to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, attract sustainable investment, and align national development with global climate goals. Key features of the LEDS include:
- Economy-wide decarbonization across energy, agriculture, transport, waste, and infrastructure.
- 47% emissions reduction by 2030, conditional on international support.
- End gas flaring by 2030 and reduce methane emissions from oil and gas by 60% by 2031.
- Whole-of-government approach involving federal, state, and local actors.
- Integration with Nigeria’s NDCs, Energy Transition Plan, and Climate Change Act.
The goal of the Green Bond program was to mobilize finance for climate change related projects. During this period, about ₦25.69 billion was issued in Sovereign (Government) Green Bonds for renewable energy, afforestation, and clean transportation, and ₦32.83 billion in Corporate Green Bonds for solar energy, waste management, and sustainable housing.
In 2021, Nigeria passed the Climate Change Act. Key Features of the Act include:
- Establishes a National Council on Climate Change
- Sets a net-zero target by 2060
- Mandates carbon budgeting and climate mainstreaming across ministries
In 2025, Nigeria launched the National Integrated Electricity Policy (NIEP). Its chief aim was to align energy planning with climate goals under the Electricity Act 2023. Key policy thrusts include the promotion of renewable energy, off-grid solutions, and state-level electricity markets.
Nigeria’s climate change policy will no doubt evolve as it and the rest of the globe continue to battle this existential threat.
