Vice President Kashim Shettima has revealed that the federal government is in talks with private investors to mobilize nearly $60 million for the electrification of Onne Port, aiming to make it Nigeria’s first green port.
He also affirmed that the country will soon phase out diesel use and reduce carbon emissions through an integrated hybrid energy system.
Speaking at Onne Port on Wednesday during the opening of the Decarbonising Infrastructure in Nigeria Summit (DIN SUMMIT) in Abuja,
Shettima cautioned that Nigeria risks falling behind globally if its climate ambitions are not aligned with the nation’s development priorities.
Vice President Shettima described the summit’s theme, “Unlocking Climate Finance for Sustainable Development,” as highly relevant, noting that Nigeria faces the urgent and complex challenge of separating its growth from carbon-intensive models of the past—while ensuring that no citizen is left behind in the transition.
He stated that while Nigeria can no longer afford to build outdated infrastructure for the future, climate action has become an economic necessity rather than a luxury.
“Onne Port, for instance, is already emerging as the template for our quest to breathe life into a robust green economy. Discussions are currently underway with private investors to commit nearly $60 million to electrify the port and transform it into Nigeria’s first green port.
“This is a strategic leap. Through an integrated hybrid energy system, we will phase out diesel dependency, slash carbon emissions, and provide 24/7 sustainable and affordable power to terminal operators and port users.
“This summit is inspired by the awareness that we can no longer afford to treat sustainability and profitability as two separate pursuits.
“This is a product of months of consultations, regional dialogues, and technical deep dives. That is why it reflects our belief that the path to net-zero by 2060 must be paved with concrete action, not convenient rhetoric.
“Our Energy Transition Plan and Climate Change Act have together created a roadmap that is both visionary and pragmatic,” the vice President resident said.
Shettima noted that 75 percent of Nigeria’s greenhouse gas emissions originate from the infrastructure sector — spanning energy, transport, urban development, and agriculture.
He emphasized that while these sectors are carbon-intensive, they also serve as the backbone of the economy, with agriculture alone sustaining 70 per cent of rural livelihoods.
The vice president remarked that while the alarming figures should serve as a wake-up call for any nation that understands their implications, the only path to avoid the “predicted doom” is to decarbonise these critical systems. He added that the goal is to build a Nigeria with infrastructure that heals rather than harms.
He said, “This is how we can alter our trajectory. If we do this right, we stand to generate over 1.5 million green jobs by 2035. We can also cultivate new export markets in clean energy and climate-smart agriculture, which would transform Nigeria into a regional leader in low-carbon enterprise.
“We are not here to fantasise. We are here to finance. To mobilise. To de-risk. To build. The Nigeria we want cannot be realised on diesel generators and fragile grids. It will not emerge from a model that chokes our lungs while draining our treasury. We must build a Nigeria whose infrastructure heals rather than harms.”
