Nigeria’s New Climate Plan Wins UN Support

Mr. Simon Stiell (left) with the Nigerian Minister of Environment, Malam Balarabe Abbas Lawal

ILESANMI OLUKEMI MOTUNRAYO

Nigeria, along with Eswatini, Jordan, Tunisia and Honduras, submitted its updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) secretariat on Monday, September 22, 2025.

Simon Stiell, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Climate Change, described Nigeria’s updated Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) as a “significant step forward” in the country’s energy and climate transition

Stiell, in a statement on Monday, said the clean energy economy presented Nigeria with an opportunity to usher in “a new era of economic growth.”

He described the plan as one that could create jobs, attract investment, and harness the potential of its youthful population.

“Every country is now in a race to realise the benefits of clean energy.

“By setting clear goals, including near-term targets to reduce emissions towards achieving net zero by 2060, Nigeria is sending a clear signal to the world: development and climate action go hand in hand,” Stiell said.

The UN climate chief also hailed Nigeria’s effort to strengthen inclusivity in its plan, noting that “involving more and more of society in climate action makes its plan stronger.”

Stiell emphasised that Nigeria’s revised plan sends “a clear signal to the world” that climate action and development were mutually reinforcing rather than contradictory.

The council had said that the updated NDC would be submitted to the UN agency before the 30th Conference of Parties on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) in November.

The third contribution, tagged: NDC 3.0, was unveiled and validated in August following a workshop on Aug. 27, organised by the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC).