On the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80), Nigeria has taken a significant step by submitting its third Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC 3.0). These five-year submissions, a core requirement of the Paris Agreement, outline each country’s plan for reducing national emissions and building climate resilience.

With an ambitious target to reduce emissions by 32% by 2030, Nigeria is now the first country in West Africa and the fifth on the African continent to submit its NDC 3.0. This early submission indicates that the country is committed to proactive climate governance.

Commending the effort, Nigeria’s Vice President, H.E. Kashim Shettima, stated that the move reflects a cross-sectoral commitment to climate action that is critical for the nation’s economy.

“As Africa’s leading economy, our updated Nationally Determined Contributions represent a clear signal of ambition and accountability. They show that Nigeria is firmly in control of its climate destiny and prepared to lead the continent with development-friendly, economy-wide climate governance,” he said.

The NDC 3.0 commits Nigeria to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060. Key strategies include promoting cleaner alternatives in manufacturing and industry by installing 7 GW of self-captive generation capacity (50% renewable and 50% natural gas). The plan also involves restoring 250,000 hectares of land and planting 25 million trees.

Mrs. Tenioye Majekodunmi, Director-General of Nigeria’s National Council on Climate Change, emphasized that NDC 3.0 marks a decisive shift from business-as-usual to an absolute, economy-wide emission reduction approach.

She highlighted the essential role of science, as outlined by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), in shaping the plan to align with Nigeria’s socio-economic priorities, a process facilitated by rigorous consultations and strong government leadership.

“With the ambition of reaching net-zero by 2060, this new climate commitment is both a bold declaration of intent and a roadmap for action. The targets are clearer, and they will be supported by a dedicated investment plan developed for NDC 3.0,” said Mrs. Majekodunmi.

The Honourable Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, described the submission as the culmination of over a decade of work by the Federal Ministry of Environment to mainstream climate change into national economic development planning.

Nigeria estimates that US$337 billion is needed to implement the NDC 3.0. The country plans to mobilize domestic resources to fund the unconditional 20% (US$67 billion), while the remaining 80% (US$270 billion) is contingent on international support, technology transfer, and capacity building.

Mrs. Majekodunmi pointed out that ambition must be matched with resources for seamless implementation. “Proper implementation is essential for success, and that is where Nigeria is ready to roll up its sleeves. We therefore call on the international community, governments, the private sector, civil society, and development partners to stand with us, invest with us, and walk this journey with us,” she said.

Echoing this call, Vice President Shettima stated that Nigeria aims to become a top global destination for green investments. “We have the people, the resources, and, crucially, the policy framework now in place to deliver on our vision of a net-zero transition by 2060,” he added.

Nigeria’s bold stance challenges the global community, particularly developed nations and multilateral agencies, to uphold shared responsibility. As the country begins implementing its NDCs by 2035, the focus is on turning plans into action, a focus that echoes the call of the second African Climate Summit (ACS2).

“With this framework firmly in place, the Federal Ministry of Environment, alongside the National Council on Climate Change, will collaborate with stakeholders and the private sector to drive Nigeria’s climate ambition. Our doors are open to global development and financial partners to transform this plan into visible action through investible opportunities that support growth for the most vulnerable Nigerians on the frontline of climate impact,” Minister Lawal concluded.