The Federal Government is in advanced discussions with international financial institutions to secure over $60 million in climate finance for pilot green energy hubs, including a landmark hybrid energy project at a major Nigerian airport, Vice President Kashim Shettima has disclosed.
Speaking at the Decarbonizing Infrastructure in Nigeria Summit held at the State House Conference Centre in Abuja, the Vice President described the initiative as a critical model for clean, affordable, and digitally monitored energy systems in strategic public infrastructure nationwide.
Shettima emphasized the urgency of climate action, warning that inaction would threaten Nigeria’s development ambitions and long-term economic stability.
“We can no longer delay. Climate action is not just about the environment, it is an economic necessity,” he stated.
According to Shettima, over 75% of Nigeria’s greenhouse gas emissions originate from infrastructure-related sectors, including energy, transport, agriculture, and urban development—all of which are essential to the country’s economy.
He highlighted Nigeria’s fast-growing population—projected to exceed 440 million by 2050—as a factor that could intensify environmental pressures without prompt intervention.
“The sectors contributing most to our emissions are also those sustaining our livelihoods. To decarbonize is to invest in Nigeria’s prosperity,” he said.
The Vice President unveiled several government-backed initiatives designed to support the transition, including:
- A State Innovation Challenge Park
- Regional climate engagement clinics
- A forthcoming White Paper on Green Growth Financing
He called for policy harmonization across all levels of government and urged the adoption of innovative financing mechanisms such as green bonds and climate investment funds to boost locally driven, climate-resilient solutions.
“Our goal is net-zero, but our journey must be local, inclusive, and urgent. The time for bullet points is over. The time for bold action is now,” Shettima concluded.
The summit gathered stakeholders from government, development partners, and the private sector to explore pathways to unlocking climate finance and accelerating Nigeria’s shift toward a low-carbon economy.
