As one of the vulnerable countries, Nigeria signed up to six climate change action policies between 2016 and 2021.

Climate change policies are regulations to curb greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in various shapes and forms. They are strategic tools for climate change advocacy and legal foundations for potential climate mitigation.

From the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) of 1994 and the National Environmental Policy of 1999 to the most recent 2050 Long-Term Low-Emission Vision policy, the world has made several efforts to mitigate climate change effects.

In spite of these policies, Africa’s most populous nation still faces huge climate problems as each policy developed is either a stand-alone or failed to build on the previous one. Analysts say that most of these policies were never fully implemented.

The failure to implement the policies has worsened Nigeria’s standing among countries that are seriously taking climate actions. The country is placed 158 out of 182 countries on climate vulnerability, scoring 37.5 over 100.

Nigeria is located in the upper-left quadrant of the ND-GAIN Matrix due to its high vulnerability and poor readiness scores, according to the Notre Dame Global Adaptation Index. As a result, climate experts say it urgently needs action and require investments and innovations to boost readiness. 

Nigeria is the 179th best-prepared country and the 53rd most vulnerable to climate disruptions among 182 countries.

Due to the regular harsh weather and erratic rainfall in Nigeria, food shortages and droughts frequently follow floods, reflecting the vulnerability of the country to climate change.

Have climate change policies worked?

There have been several policies designed to reduce climate change impacts locally and globally. The National Climate Change Policy and Response Strategy (NPCC-RS) of 2013 sought to promote sustainable development by strengthening support for the nation’s policies on climate change preparedness, adaptation, and mitigation across all societal segments, particularly among vulnerable people.

Climate change is specifically mentioned in the plan as one of the main dangers to economic development and food security objectives. The plan includes specific goals for energy supply, afforestation, and climate change adaptation to tackle these difficulties.

Next is the Paris Agreement on Climate Action in 2016, which is expected to bring Nigeria to net zero carbon emission by 2060 by reducing global warming to well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to restrict it to 1.5°C.

The Paris Agreement lays out a worldwide framework to avoid severe climate change. It also aims to support nations in their efforts and improve their capacity to deal with the effects of climate change. 

The Paris Agreement equally provides the basis for subsequent policies in the country, which are meant to improve different aspects of the 2016 agreement. At least 55 nations representing 55 percent of global polluters are required to deposit their ratification instruments, acceptance, approval, and accession for the agreement to take effect. 

There is also the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) 2021 representing Nigeria’s efforts to lower national emissions and prepare for the effects of climate change. The Paris Agreement and the accomplishment of its long-term objectives are based on nationally determined contributions (NDCs). 

The Paris Agreement requires Nigeria and all other countries to establish an NDC and update it every five years. Countries set goals in their NDCs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change and prepare for its effects. The plans outline how to achieve the goals and include methods to track and confirm progress to ensure that efforts are on course. They also include a financing strategy.

The National Climate Change Policy (NCCP) 2021 is another policy meant to encourage sustainable socioeconomic growth that is low in carbon, climate-resilient, and gender-responsive. 

To achieve a sustainable development pathway that is climate resilient, the NCCP seeks to increase adaptation. The National Climate Change Programme complements the National Climate Policy by outlining and identifying measures and actions that will be implemented in a programmatic manner to address most, if not all, of the challenges posed by climate change and climate vulnerability in the country, the document says.

Nigeria’s 2050 Long-Term Low Emission Vision demonstrates the country’s determination to actualise the Paris Agreement and put it into effect. It was released in 2021 by the Federal Government of Nigeria.

This policy gives all stakeholders a clear sense of direction for a well-managed transition to a low-carbon economy that fosters new employment possibilities and economic growth that is sustainable and climate-proof by gathering a variety of viewpoints and building a comprehensive long-term strategy.

The purposes of these policies include to ensure environmental protection, foster low carbon and high growth path, cut down on emissions, achieve net-zero target, build climate resilience, integrate climate change mitigation, control drought and desertification, among others,

However, implementing the policies in Nigeria has been a major issue.

Implementation challenges

Implementing these policies in Nigeria requires huge financial investment, which the country does not have. A financial analyst, Dr Adindu Ikeazo, said “Nigerian leaders believe the country has more critical problems than climate change. Debts are mounting and revenue is about 10 percent of the GDP. Taking climate change seriously will require proper enlightenment among the ruling class.”

Financing has been the major stumbling block to climate change implementation. As highlighted in COP27, to achieve the objectives outlined in the NDCs, it was estimated that developing nations alone would require $1 trillion annually outside foreign assistance. 

However, Nigeria’s budget for climate change has been to create awareness, as funds have not been committed to mitigation and adaptation.

This implies that the country might depend on external sources to fund its climate change action. This might be a tall order as the goal of mobilising $100 billion per year is far from being met.

Climate Action Tracker (CAT) rates Nigeria’s climate goals and policies as “Almost Sufficient,” stating that it has no available financial commitment.

Therefore, while these policies will put the country in a good frame of attaining climate targets, lack of funds remains Nigeria’s undoing.

According to Founder and CEO of the Zoba Advisory and Climate Technology Solutions, Ms Chizoba Nzeakor, climate change policies were not being implemented due to a lack of funding, noting that the government of Nigeria must also carry stakeholders along to make and implement decisions, which often did not happen.

She further explained that Nigeria’s dependency on oil cannot possibly be the reason for the lag in implementing these policies, stating that “Nigeria’s heavy reliance on oil is similar to these other oil-producing countries such as Qatar, UAE, and Saudi Arabia.” 

While these countries heavily relied on oil as their primary resource and trade commodity, she said, they were actively working towards implementing sustainable measures to achieve the net-zero target.

She advised that the government must proactively prioritise implementing policies and education programmes that would promote environmental conservation and sustainability. 

According to an economist, Mr Lawal Ibrahim, Nigeria had solid climate change policies. He however identified financial problems of the country as the biggest reason for lack of policy implementation.

Nigeria’s dependence on oil, according to him, had hamstrung the government’s ability to make important decisions and restricted the amount of money entering the economy. 

To combat climate change, Nigeria must lower and stabilise atmospheric concentrations of gases that trap heat, while efforts should be made to raise the country’s fiscal profile.

This report was produced in fulfilment of the UNESCO & CIJ London Climate Change in News Media project facilitated by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development.