Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a rallying call to global leaders, urging them to show unity, courage, and lasting commitment in the face of the deepening climate crisis threatening communities across Africa and beyond.

Speaking at a high-level virtual climate dialogue on Wednesday, co-hosted by UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Tinubu emphasized Nigeria's belief that climate action must go hand-in-hand with inclusive economic growth.

“For Nigeria, the urgency is undeniable. We don’t see climate action as a barrier to development — we see it as a strategic necessity,” Tinubu said.

The meeting served as a key moment ahead of COP30, which Brazil is set to host in November. Tinubu used the platform to spotlight Nigeria’s ambitious Energy Transition Plan — a bold blueprint aiming to drive the country to net-zero emissions by 2060. The plan prioritizes key sectors like power, transportation, industry, cooking, and oil and gas, and will require an estimated $410 billion in financing.

Tinubu also reaffirmed Nigeria’s leadership role in the Mission 300 initiative, a continent-wide effort being spearheaded in partnership with the World Bank and the African Development Bank. The initiative seeks to bring electricity to 300 million Africans by the year 2030.

Referencing the Dar es Salaam Declaration and Nigeria’s recently unveiled National Energy Compact, Tinubu laid out the country’s vision for energy reform — with clear targets and investment opportunities to improve clean energy access and accelerate the adoption of clean cooking solutions.

“We’re positioning Nigeria as a top destination for climate-smart investments,” Tinubu declared, revealing plans for a Global Climate Change Investment Fund. The fund, he said, will blend public and private capital to support transformative projects in renewable energy, green industrial hubs, electric mobility, regenerative farming, and rural energy access.

“This is about more than emissions — it’s about livelihoods, opportunity, and building a future our children can thrive in,” Tinubu concluded.


April 25, 2025 (Wafric News)