Despite Nigeria’s ambitious Energy Transition Plan (ETP), aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 and universal access to modern energy by 2030, experts say the country’s pace of technological adoption remains worryingly slow.
A known geologist and climate technology advocate, Blessing Chukwuifunanya Osondu, has called for a more aggressive, innovation-led approach to climate action.
Speaking at the first West African Science and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) International Conference on Climate Change and Just Energy Transition held in Abuja, Osondu warned that Nigeria risks falling behind if it continues to treat climate action as a long-term aspiration rather than an immediate, tech-enabled necessity.
“It is not enough to set distant goals,” she said. “Nigeria needs short-term, technology-driven climate interventions — such as artificial intelligence (AI)-powered carbon tracking, satellite-based deforestation monitoring, Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled smart grids, and digital systems for pollution reporting.”
Osondu lamented that the industrialization process for green and low-carbon technologies still lags, with a technology transfer rate of less than 30 percent. This, she said, underscores the need for partnerships that prioritize innovation, capacity building, and access to cutting-edge solutions.
She maintained that climate change has evolved beyond being a mere environmental concern. “It is now a tech-economic, political, and social issue,” Osondu explained. “Technology can transform our climate resilience — from predictive flood and drought modelling to blockchain-enabled transparency in carbon markets. But for this to happen, everyone must be involved, not just the government.”
Highlighting Nigeria’s achievements, Osondu acknowledged the Federal Government’s strides in climate policy and global engagement — including the Climate Change Act (2021), the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), the Energy Transition Plan (2022), the Green Bond Programme, and the Great Green Wall Initiative.
She also noted that while the Climate Change Act provides a robust legal framework for sustainability efforts, and the Green Bond Programme showcases the role of innovative financing in sustainable development, implementation remains slow.
For Nigeria to meet its 2060 net-zero target, Osondu concluded, the nation must bridge the gap between policy ambition and technological execution. “Without aggressive innovation, our climate promises risk becoming beautiful speeches without measurable impacgt,” she warned.
