Nigeria Plans to Create More Jobs Through Energy Transition, Says Onyejeocha

Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja 

The federal government has said that one of the major objectives of Nigeria’s energy transition plans is job creation for the youths.

Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, said that Nigeria’s labour and employment strategies have now been integrated into the national energy policy.

Onyejeocha disclosed this in a speech delivered at the IEA Global Commission on People-Centred Energy Transitions in Brussels on June 12, the minister emphasised that Nigeria’s shift to cleaner energy must prioritise workforce protection and inclusive growth.  

She said that the federal government is already training auto-technicians in converting petrol-powered vehicles to CNG systems and equipping women and youth with renewable energy skills.

“Recognising that people must be at the centre of the energy transition, we have embedded labour and employment strategies into our national energy planning,” Onyejeocha stated. 

She outlined the government’s multi pronged approach, which includes the Presidential Initiative on Compressed Natural Gas (Pi-CNG) to harness Nigeria’s gas reserves for affordable, cleaner energy while creating jobs.  

The minister said the newly approved National Employment Policy prioritises green jobs and skills development for women, youth, and informal sector workers. 

“Our approach is grounded in the principle that the energy transition must create opportunity, not dislocation,” she said, stressing the need for social protection and community engagement.  

To translate policy into action, the government launched the Labour Employment and Empowerment Programme (LEEP) in April 2025. The initiative is already training auto-technicians in converting petrol-powered vehicles to CNG systems and equipping women and youth with renewable energy skills.

Onyejeocha called for global collaboration to ensure the clean energy shift delivers both environmental benefits and economic justice. 

“We are committed to building a future where clean energy delivers not just sustainability, but shared prosperity and dignity of work,” she said.  

The Minister of State said that the move will position Nigeria as an emerging leader in balancing energy reforms with labour market safeguards, offering a potential model for other developing nations navigating the transition, noting that with LEEP’s rollout and the Pi-CNG initiative.