The President of the Global Legislators Organisation for Better Environment (GLOBE) Legislators International, Rt. Hon. Sam Onuigbo, has said Nigeria has recorded significant progress in energy transition and climate sustainability under President Bola Tinubu.
Onuigbo also commended the governors of Nasarawa, Lagos, Kaduna, Katsina and Borno states for their efforts to promote energy transition and carbon market initiatives, urging other state governments to emulate them.
He said coordinated action by federal and state governments would strengthen Nigeria’s position as a leading voice in environmental sustainability.
Onuigbo, who sponsored Nigeria’s Climate Change Act, made the remarks after receiving the Fellowship of the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria (FSESN) in recognition of his contributions to climate action and advocacy.
He was honoured alongside other eminent Nigerians at the 43rd National Solar Energy Forum and Conference (NASEF 2026), held at the African University of Science and Technology, Abuja.
The event took place against the backdrop of efforts to address Nigeria’s electricity access challenges through renewable energy sources, including solar power, as well as alternative energy solutions such as compressed natural gas and electric vehicles.
In his acceptance speech, Onuigbo said the fellowship represented not only recognition of his past contributions but also a call to greater responsibility in advancing climate action and clean energy development.
“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 society and supporting initiatives that would expand solar energy adoption, strengthen climate governance and unlock the environmental, economic and social benefits of the clean energy transition,” he said.
The former two-term member of the National Assembly reaffirmed his commitment to translating climate legislation into practical action, accelerating Nigeria’s energy transition and advancing the pathway to net-zero emissions.
He described solar power as central to the transition, citing its potential to extend electricity access to underserved and unserved communities, stimulate green industrialisation, create jobs and reduce carbon emissions.
“The shift to clean energy should not be viewed only as an environmental necessity, but also as an economic opportunity and a responsibility to future generations,” he said.
“Solar energy is central to this transition. Its potential to expand energy access to underserved and unserved communities, drive green industrialisation, create jobs and reduce carbon emissions makes it indispensable to a sustainable future.”
Onuigbo commended Tinubu for assenting to the Electricity Act 2023, which provides for greater participation by state governments in electricity generation, transmission and distribution within the framework of the law.
He said the legislation had enabled 16 states to establish their own electricity regulatory authorities.
The GLOBE president also praised the Tinubu administration for the World Bank-funded Distributed Access through Renewable Energy Scale-up (DARES) programme, which he described as one of Nigeria’s most ambitious distributed renewable energy initiatives.
“Indeed, President Tinubu deserves kudos because, through this initiative, 17.5 million Nigerians will gain access to electricity by deploying thousands of mini-grids across the country,” he said.
The programme is being implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency with World Bank support.
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On developments in Nasarawa State, Onuigbo commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for creating an enabling environment for the establishment of lithium processing plants, describing the initiative as a step towards positioning the state as a destination for energy transition investments.
He said such initiatives could help translate Nigeria’s climate commitments and critical minerals potential into tangible benefits through improved access to clean energy and sustainable development.
In his remarks, the President of the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria, Dr Sunny Akpoyibo, praised Onuigbo for his contributions to climate action in Nigeria, Africa and beyond.
Highlighting Onuigbo’s role in the passage of the Climate Change Act 2021, Akpoyibo said the legislation established a legal and institutional framework for climate governance in Nigeria.
He said the law provided safeguards for climate action across various sectors of the economy while supporting the country’s commitment to climate resilience, low-carbon development and net-zero emissions.
Akpoyibo added that the Act recognised the importance of clean and renewable energy in achieving those objectives, underscoring the need for increased investment in and adoption of solar power to address Nigeria’s electricity challenges.
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