Nigeria Endorses Just Transition Plan to Drive Green Economy

By Iyojo Ameh

Nigeria has officially validated its landmark Just Transition Guidelines and Action Plan (JT-GAP), marking a major milestone in the country’s drive toward a sustainable, low-carbon, and inclusive green economy.

The two-day validation ceremony, held from October 6 to 7, 2025, at the Nigeria Air Force Conference Centre in Abuja, was organised by the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC) with support from the International Labour Organisation (ILO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

Developed by the Centre for Climate Change and Development (CCCD) at Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ebonyi State, the JT-GAP provides a national framework to guide Nigeria’s fair and equitable transition to a green economy. The document sets out practical strategies for achieving economic diversification, environmental sustainability, and social inclusion in line with the country’s climate commitments.

Experts from government agencies, academia, and development partners reviewed the document during the session, focusing on key themes such as gender inclusion, youth empowerment, and social justice.

Speaking at the event, NCCC Director-General, Mrs. Tenioye Majekodunmi, described the JT-GAP as an evidence-based and people-centered blueprint aligned with Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan (ETP) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

Majekodunmi emphasized that the plan reflects Nigeria’s commitment to balancing economic growth, environmental protection, and social equity, stressing that the successful implementation of the JT-GAP will ensure that no group is left behind in the country’s transition to a green economy.

“A just transition is not only an environmental commitment but a development pathway,” she said. “It ensures that our climate actions are inclusive, fair, and beneficial to all Nigerians.”

Lead consultant, Professor Chukwumerije Okereke, represented by Professor Emmanuel Oladipo, alongside Project Manager, Dr. Austine Sadiq Okoh, commended the inclusiveness of the validation process. They praised Nigeria’s leadership role in embedding fairness and justice in climate policy and urged strong inter-agency coordination to drive implementation.

Participants at the event—including representatives from civil society organizations, labour unions, youth groups, and development agencies—applauded the JT-GAP’s comprehensive approach and participatory development process.

They described the validation as a significant step in Nigeria’s climate journey, reaffirming the country’s leadership in advancing Africa’s collective transition toward a just, inclusive, and resilient green economy.

With the endorsement of the JT-GAP, Nigeria now joins a growing number of countries taking concrete steps to operationalize the principles of a just transition, ensuring that environmental sustainability aligns with social justice and economic opportunity.