Stakeholders have canvassed a comprehensive Just Transition Guideline to steer Nigeria shift towards a sustainable and low-carbon economy.They stressed that the guideline was crucial to addressing the challenges and opportunities associated with the dynamic movement.
The stakeholders made the appeal at a two-day stakeholders’ engagement workshop on the development of the Just Transition Guideline for Nigeria. Organised by the National Council on Climate Change Secretariat (NCCCS), in collaboration with the International Labour Organisation (ILO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the workshop had government agencies and Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in attendance.
They noted that Just Transition would ensure that the shift to renewable energy and a low-carbon future aligns with sustaining vision by integrating policies that safeguard workers and communities, particularly those dependent on fossil fuel-based industries, anchored on sustainability, economic inclusion and resilience.
In her opening address, Director-General of the NCCCS, Dr Nkiruka Maduekwe, stressed the importance of aligning Nigeria’s Just Transition with national priorities under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“This engagement is a crucial step in shaping a just, inclusive, and equitable transition towards a low-carbon future for Nigeria. Our policies, including the Energy Transition Plan, Nationally Determined Contributions, and the Climate Change Act, provide a foundation for a people-centred, economy-driven transition,” she said. Maduekwe emphasised the need to focus not only on technological and policy shifts, but also on people, livelihoods, and job creation.
“We must invest in green jobs, build skills, and protect vulnerable communities to ensure that no one is left behind,” she added. Speaking on behalf of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Dr Jonathan Sylvanus Daja harped on public sensitisation, regulatory enforcement, and capacity building for effective environmental governance.
“To achieve our transition goals, we must work collectively. From raising awareness to building local capacity and encouraging private sector involvement, this is a national responsibility,” he said.
Daja also highlighted NESREA’s decarbonisation initiatives aimed at reducing carbon emissions from industrial activities, calling for stronger political will and partnership across sectors to drive sustainable change.
Echoing the sentiments, a renowned climatologist, Prof. Emmanuel Oladipo, warned against complacency in the face of climate change. He stressed that rising global temperatures, largely driven by fossil fuel consumption, pose serious threats to human health and survival. He underscored the need for long-term planning, urging stakeholders to continuously monitor progress and adjust strategies accordingly.
The Climate Action Coordinator for the ILO, Steven Aguguo, also backed the initiative, describing the transition away from carbon-intensive systems as timely and necessary.
“The ILO remains committed to ensuring an inclusive transition that leaves no one behind,” he affirmed.
