Nigeria’s 2060 clean energy target feasible – NASENI

The National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure has expressed confidence that Nigeria can achieve its target of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2060, despite the significant work required to reach the goal.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ workshop on renewable energy and environmental sustainability in Abuja on Tuesday, a representative of the agency, Engr Edith Aja, said Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy sources aligns with a global shift towards low-carbon development.

The workshop was organised by AtoB Technology Limited in collaboration with NASENI.

Aja noted that while countries have adopted different timelines and strategies for achieving carbon neutrality, Nigeria’s 2060 target remains attainable if the government, businesses and citizens sustain their commitment to climate action and renewable energy adoption.

“Different countries have set different timelines for achieving net-zero emissions. Countries such as China, India and others have established their own targets and implementation strategies.

“Nigeria also has its own target, which is 2060, and achieving it will require significant effort, but it is feasible.

“Awareness programmes such as this one are essential because people need to understand their role in reducing emissions and supporting renewable energy adoption,” she said.

Nigeria committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 during the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in 2021 as part of broader efforts under the Paris Agreement to limit global warming and accelerate the transition to cleaner energy systems.

Aja, however, identified the absence of comprehensive and harmonised data on renewable energy projects and users as a major challenge to tracking progress and unlocking potential benefits within the climate finance ecosystem.

“Every meaningful achievement begins with a first step. Rather than focusing on the difficulties, we should remain committed to the process. With sustained effort and collaboration, Nigeria can make significant progress towards meeting its carbon reduction targets,” she said.

She explained that NASENI’s support for the workshop was driven by the need to create greater awareness around renewable energy adoption and to capture data that could help individuals and organisations access climate-related incentives.

“As an organisation, NASENI is supporting this programme because we see it as an important initiative. Many people have already embraced renewable energy solutions such as solar power, biomass and other clean energy technologies. Through these efforts, they are helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make the environment healthier.

“Many of these individuals and organisations are unaware that there are potential benefits attached to their contributions to environmental sustainability. To ensure that those making positive environmental impacts can benefit from various climate-related incentives, there is a need to gather and document relevant data,” she said.

According to her, the workshop is intended to support data collection efforts while encouraging wider participation in the country’s climate agenda.

“This workshop is aimed at creating awareness and facilitating the collection of data on renewable energy users and projects so that such contributions can be properly recognised and rewarded where applicable,” she added.

Aja stressed that Nigeria’s net-zero ambition is part of a broader international effort under the Paris Agreement, through which countries have committed to reducing emissions and pursuing sustainable development goals.

“This is not solely a government programme. It is part of a global effort. There is an international framework known as the Paris Agreement, which guides many of these climate-related initiatives.

“Countries around the world are working towards reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable development,” she added.

Addressing how rural communities can participate in the initiative, Aja said public enlightenment remains critical, particularly in addressing environmentally harmful practices such as bush burning.

“The first step is awareness. Many people engage in practices such as bush burning without fully understanding the environmental consequences. When land is cleared through burning, harmful gases are released into the atmosphere, which negatively impacts the environment.

“This is why awareness campaigns, workshops and conferences such as this are important. Gradually, people will begin to understand the benefits of adopting environmentally friendly practices,” she stressed.

Also speaking, the Group Secretary of AtoB Technology Limited, Deji Atoyebi, said one of the company’s core mandates is the collection, harmonisation and verification of data from multiple sources to create reliable datasets that can support development planning and investment.

“A major aspect of our work relates to renewable energy and environmental sustainability. Across the country, there are numerous renewable energy projects and assets providing services to communities. However, much of the data generated from these projects is scattered and inaccessible.

“When such data remains decentralised and unavailable to relevant stakeholders, it becomes difficult to measure impact, attract investment, or demonstrate value.

“Our objective is to collect, organise, and verify this information so that it can support development initiatives and enable organisations to benefit from the value created by these projects,” he said.

Atoyebi said data generated from solar installations, agricultural projects and other renewable energy initiatives should be treated as valuable assets capable of supporting financing opportunities and impact measurement.

“When properly captured and documented, they can contribute to financing opportunities and help stakeholders demonstrate measurable outcomes,” he added.

He lamented the absence of harmonised data across critical sectors of the economy, noting that AtoB Technology’s objective is to transform fragmented information into credible datasets that meet international standards.

The event attracted representatives from the Federal Ministries of Power and Agriculture and Food Security, the Rural Electrification Agency and other stakeholders in the renewable energy and climate sectors.