Over 82 million people live on less than $1 per day. Yet, Nigeria is expected to become the world’s second-most populous country in the world, by the end of the century.
We are a struggling country where it matters. Which means that ‘luxuries’ like access to electricity is out of the question for over 40 percent of the population (85 million people do not have access to electricity).
There are more issues. With 86% of the country’s total export revenue contributed by its petroleum export, and our position as Africa’s largest oil producer, we are one of the top 20 biggest emitters of greenhouse gasses in the world!
Intense heat waves, reduced rainfall, increased singular rainstorms, and other disrupted weather patterns, have been experienced across the country. This can be catastrophic for a country’s agricultural industry that is heavily dependent on rain for irrigation. This means that the livelihood and productivity of Nigerian farmers are currently being threatened, and even for years to come.
Fortunately, in 2015, the country signed the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and promised to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030. The Agreement was ratified two years after. But, five years after the signing, greenhouse gas emission has increased by 16%.
With the pandemic raging on, apparent economic and societal instability, there is a very slim chance that 20% reduction will be achieved. There is still the matter of oil spills, wood-burning and deforestation, etc.
The short and long-term solution may lie in the country’s estimated 2 billion metric tonne coal reserve, as well as a sustainable approach to the wind and solar power – two options that the country has grossly under-utilised.
Thankfully, the Federal Government’s COVID-19 economic recovery plan highlights a structure for getting solar power to 5 million households by 2023. The Government believes that it will provide 250,000 jobs. Great! If there is any intention to implement this and sustain this, then we may well be on our way to changing our climate positively.