Africa must pursue a practical energy transition that leverages natural gas to support industrial growth while meeting global climate targets, the Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Majekodunmi Omotenioye, has said.
Speaking at the Green Conference 2026 organised by Greenplinth Africa in Lagos, Omotenioye stressed that natural gas should serve as a transition fuel as African nations pursue economic expansion and climate goals simultaneously.
The three-day conference, themed “Decarbonising Africa: Pathway to Climate Finance, Sustainable Growth and Green Economy,” brought together policymakers, climate experts, development partners, and state governments to examine strategies for balancing economic development with environmental sustainability across the continent.
According to a statement issued on Sunday, Omotenioye said Africa faces a distinct challenge of industrialising while cutting emissions, a dilemma many developed economies did not encounter during their early development phases.
“Africa stands at a pivotal moment in the history of global development. Ours is the youngest continent on earth, rich in resources, innovation, and human potential, yet hundreds of millions still live without reliable access to modern energy.
“The real question before us is not whether Africa should decarbonise. That objective is already clear and widely shared. The question is how Africa can achieve industrial growth, energy security, and economic prosperity while advancing the global climate agenda,” she said.
Omotenioye noted that shifting from coal and heavy fuel oil to natural gas could significantly reduce emissions while improving air quality.
“With over 600 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, Nigeria has the resources to support industrial growth while contributing to global climate objectives,” she added.
The NCCC chief also disclosed that Nigeria recently introduced a national framework to decarbonise its oil and gas sector, covering upstream, midstream and downstream operations.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Sam Ode, said sub-national governments must play a crucial role in the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
“The essence is to ensure that the poorest and most vulnerable people in rural areas become the major beneficiaries of clean energy access,” he said, while urging investors and development partners to see the state as “a frontier for green opportunity.”
At the conference, Niger State became the second sub-national government, after Benue State, to sign a clean energy partnership with Greenplinth Africa.
The state’s Commissioner for Environment and Climate Change, Abubakar Musa, said the initiative would help address poverty and strengthen climate resilience.
“This project has come in to solve the issue of poverty, increase revenue for families, and help us tackle climate challenges,” Musa said.
Representing Nasarawa State, Muhammed Gudi said the state government was prepared to support the programme through land allocation and policy backing.
“His Excellency is happy and thrilled to see that the state is fully engaged in decarbonisation initiatives. Nasarawa State is very ready to key into this programme because it will address climate issues and create employment opportunities for our people,” he said.
In recognition of its early involvement, the Lagos State Government was honoured as the first sub-national government to sign a memorandum of understanding with Greenplinth Africa.
