Onuigbo: Nigeria Has Covered Great Mileage in Energy Transition

President of Global Legislators Organisation for Better Environment (GLOBE) Legislators International, Hon.Sam Onuigbo has said that Nigeria has attained great milestones in the area of energy transition and climate sustainability under President Bola Tinubu.

Onuigbo, who is also the sponsor of Nigeria’s signature climate change law, made the remarks while being honoured with Fellowship of the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria (FSESN) in recognition of his contributions to Climate Change action and advocacy.
He also observed the commendable and focused attention of the governors of Nasarawa, Lagos, Kaduna, Katsina, and Borno states towards energy transition and carbon market initiatives.

The former lawmaker noted that if governments at the subnational level emulate the concerted actions of the Federal Government, Nigeria would emerge as a leading voice in environmental sustainability.

Onuigbo was honoured alongside other eminent Nigerians at the 43rd National Solar Energy Forum/Conference otherwise called NASEF 2026, which held amid efforts by the country to tackle energy accessibility challenges through resort to renewable energy sources, including solar power, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), Electric Vehicles.

In his thank-you speech on the occasion, which took place in African University of Science and Technology, Abuja; Onuigbo said the fellowship was not merely a recognition of past contributions but also a call to greater responsibility in advancing climate action and clean energy development.

His words: “I consider this Fellowship not only a recognition of past contributions but also a call to greater responsibility. Let me also affirm my commitment to deepening my engagement with the society and support initiatives that would expand solar energy adoption, strengthen climate governance and unlock the environmental, economic and social benefits of the clean energy transition.
Onuigbo expressed his resolve to translating climate legislation into practical action, accelerating Nigeria’s energy transition and advancing the pathway to net-zero emissions.

While describing solar power as central to the transition, the GLOBE President cited its potential to extend electricity access to underserved and unserved communities, stimulate green industrialisation, create jobs and reduce carbon emissions.
He added: “The shift to clean energy, he stated, should not be viewed only as an environmental necessity, but also as an economic opportunity and a responsibility to future generations.

“Solar energy is central to this transition. Its potential to expand energy access to underserved and unserved, drive green industrialisation, create jobs and reduce carbon emissions makes it indispensable to a sustainable future.”
Onuigbo praised President Tinubu for the courage to assent to the Electricity Act 2023, explaining that the extensive provisions of the Act for Renewable Energy and also liberalising access to electricity generation and distribution by the subnational governments, has resulted in 16 states having their own electricity regulatory authorities.

He maintained that President Tinubu should be credited with the feat of the World Bank funded DARES (Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up), which runs as the country’s most ambitious distributed energy initiative.
Onuigbo noted: “Indeed, President Tinubu deserves kudos because through this initiative, 17.5million Nigerians will gain access to electricity by deploying thousands of mini-grids across the country.”

On the giant steps by the Nasarawa State Government, the former lawmaker commended Engineer Abdullahi Sule, for displaying great insight and ingenuity in mainstreaming the state’s potential into global destination for energy transition by creating the enabling environment for the establishment of lithium processing plants in his state..

He noted that such forward-looking initiatives and support advance the need to turn Nigeria’s climate commitments and immense critical minerals potential into tangible benefits through wider access to clean energy and sustainable development.
Also, President of Solar Energy Society of Nigeria (SESN), Dr Sunny Akpoyibo, in a note of appreciation commended Onuigbo for his strong voice and initiatives in the advancement of climate action not only in Nigeria, but also across the African continent and the world.
Hammering on Onuigbo’s determined struggle to birth Nigeria’s Climate Change Act of 2021, Akpoyibo stated: “The Climate Change Act 2021, established a legal and institutional framework for climate governance in Nigeria.

“That legislation provides critical safeguards for climate action across various sectors of the economy, while advancing the country’s commitment to climate resilience, low-carbon development and the transition to net-zero emissions.
“Further, the Act recognises the importance of clean and renewable energy in achieving these objectives, reinforcing the need for increased investment in and adoption of solar power to address Nigeria’s energy challenges.”