- Discloses $60m talks with investors to electrify Onne port as Nigeria’s first green port
From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
At the Decarbonising Infrastructure in Nigeria Summit (DIN SUMMIT) held in Abuja on Wednesday, Vice President Kashim Shettima pledged that Nigeria will soon eliminate its reliance on diesel and significantly reduce carbon emissions through the deployment of an integrated hybrid energy system.
Highlighting the urgency of climate action, the Vice President stressed that “Nigeria can no longer build yesterday’s infrastructure for tomorrow,” emphasising that climate initiatives have evolved from being a luxury to an economic imperative.
Using Onne Port as a pioneering example, Shettima revealed ongoing talks with private investors to invest nearly $60 million to electrify the port, aiming to transform it into Nigeria’s first green port. “Through an integrated hybrid energy system, we will phase out diesel dependency, slash carbon emissions, and provide 24/7 sustainable and affordable power to terminal operators and port users,” he stated.
The summit, born from months of consultations and technical discussions, reflects Nigeria’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2060 through actionable policies such as the Energy Transition Plan and the Climate Change Act.
Shettima, according to a statement by his media aide, underscored that 75% of Nigeria’s greenhouse gas emissions stem from infrastructure sectors including energy, transport, urban development, and agriculture — sectors that are vital to the economy and rural livelihoods.
“The only way out of the predicted doom is to decarbonise these systems,” he warned, adding, “If we do this right, we stand to generate over 1.5 million green jobs by 2035 and cultivate new export markets in clean energy and climate-smart agriculture, positioning Nigeria as a regional leader in low-carbon enterprise.”
Calling for practical action, the Vice President said, “We are not here to fantasise. We are here to finance. To mobilise. To de-risk. To build. The Nigeria we want cannot be realised on diesel generators and fragile grids. It will not emerge from a model that chokes our lungs while draining our treasury.”
He described the summit’s theme, “Unlocking Climate Finance for Sustainable Development,” as timely given the urgent need to decouple Nigeria’s development from carbon-intensive models without leaving any citizen behind. “We must strengthen our regulatory frameworks, harmonise policy across sectors and tiers, and launch tools like the Green Investment Portal to connect capital to climate-smart opportunities,” he said.
Director General and CEO of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Nkiruka Maduekwe, highlighted Nigeria’s vulnerability to climate change despite its minimal global emissions contribution. She called for urgent transitions in smart agriculture, renewable energy adoption, and sustainable infrastructure, emphasizing the need for private sector investment.
Personal Assistant to the President on Subnational Infrastructure, Musaddiq Adamu, reinforced the government’s focus on equitable climate innovation, stating, “This summit is not just about emissions but about equity, economic survival and building a future where infrastructure does not bury the planet but restores hope and empowers society, especially the young, the poor and the marginalised.”