The future lies in seeing a stable climate not as a luxury, but as the essential foundation for a prosperous, healthy, and secure Nigeria.

Imagine a family trying to decide how to spend their last bit of money. They need to buy food for dinner tonight, but they also need to fix a hole in the roof before the next big storm. This is the daily reality for Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, caught between two urgent needs: lifting its people out of poverty and protecting them from a changing climate.

The pressure to develop the economy is enormous. Millions need reliable electricity, steady jobs, and affordable food. For decades, the clear path forward has been through the country’s vast oil and gas reserves. New refineries and gas projects promise energy, jobs, and money. At the same time, pushing to farm more land and build more factories feels like the only way to meet the needs of a booming young population.

But here’s the catch. These very solutions are making the climate problem worse. Burning more fossil fuels pumps carbon into the air. Clearing forests for farms destroys natural landscapes that absorb carbon. The difficult decision to remove fuel subsidies in 2023, while intended to free up government funds, also made energy costs more volatile for citizens and businesses, complicating the shift to affordable clean alternatives. So, each step toward short-term economic growth can make the country more vulnerable to long-term crises such as droughts, floods, and rising seas. This puts global climate goals, like limiting severe warming, frustratingly out of reach.

This tough spot explains why climate action in Nigeria sometimes feels like a back-burner issue. After a terrible flood, it’s all anyone talks about. But when oil prices drop and the economy stumbles, the conversation quickly shifts back to jobs and stability. It’s a constant push-and-pull.

The good news? Some smart strategies can tackle both problems at once. Think of them as two-for-one deals for the nation’s future.

Take solar power. Instead of seeing it just as “green energy,” picture it as a direct answer to the fact that nearly half of Nigerians lack steady electricity. Small solar mini grids can power entire villages, allowing businesses to stay open after dark, students to study, and clinics to keep medicine cool. This creates local jobs and avoids the need for more polluting power plants.

Or look at the dry farmlands in the north. Teaching farmers to plant trees among their crops, a practice called agroforestry, can be a jobs program. The trees help the soil hold water, protect crops from harsh winds, and absorb carbon from the atmosphere. This turns a climate solution into a direct boost for food security.

Even the wasteful practice of burning off excess gas at oil wells can be flipped. Forcing companies to capture this gas provides fuel for local factories or fertilizer plants. This creates industrial jobs, cleans up the toxic air for nearby communities, and reduces harmful emissions in one move.

Nigeria’s challenge is not about choosing between its people and the planet. It’s about finding the clever path that does both. The future lies in seeing a stable climate not as a luxury, but as the essential foundation for a prosperous, healthy, and secure Nigeria. By investing in solutions that address immediate needs while protecting against future threats, the country can begin to win the tug-of-war and build a stronger tomorrow.

This Post was submitted by Climate Scorecard Nigeria Country Manager, Michael Johnson.