Nigeria’s energy system sits at the heart of both its development and climate future. Just over half of people in Nigeria have access to energy, and while demand for electricity is rapidly rising, supply remains unreliable and emissions high.
It is against this backdrop that UK PACT is working with the Government of Nigeria, a host of partner organisations, technical experts and local communities to unlock renewable energy potential and deliver green growth.
Through the Climate Change Act, the Energy Transition Plan and its national climate commitments, the Government of Nigeria has set a pathway towards net zero emissions by 2060 while expanding access to clean energy.
“Nigeria’s energy transition is not only about climate targets,” said Samantha Harrisson, First Secretary Climate Diplomacy, British High Commission in Abuja.
“It is about improving the reliability of electricity for businesses, creating new investment opportunities, and expanding access to power for communities.”
Last week saw the launch of the second phase of UK PACT’s support in Nigeria, building on the success of the foundations laid since 2021. The new phase reflects a shift from policy design towards delivery, investment readiness, with a focus on concrete changes in power generation and provision.
UK PACT is helping federal regulators and institutions strengthen policies, governance and data systems to expand renewable energy and green finance. This supports evidence‑based policymaking, improves access to international climate finance and advances Nigeria’s carbon markets.
A second set of projects showcases distributed renewable energy models that integrate clean power into the electricity system and can be financed at scale. These include renewable energy for healthcare facilities, small hydropower schemes, and community energy solutions in rural and underserved areas.
The third strand builds investment-readiness by developing project pipelines, feasibility studies and replicable delivery models for governments, utilities and the private sector. It also supports Nigerian businesses to access green finance and adopt climate smart practices.
“By linking targeted policy reform with practical energy solutions, this partnership is helping translate climate ambition into real benefits for people and the economy,” First Secretary Climate Diplomacy Harrisson said.
In its first phase, UK PACT supported the implementation of Nigeria’s Climate Change Act and helped develop the country’s first roadmap for long-term electricity planning. The second phase of Nigeria-UK PACT’s work aims to build on these foundations by bringing in technical expertise that unlock investment at scale – benefiting the UK as well as Nigeria and playing a role in the reduction of global emissions.
