The United Nations Climate Change Secretariat has clarified that the proposed carbon tax in Nigeria should not be viewed as punitive but as a tool designed to encourage positive behavior and drive climate-friendly innovation.
Speaking at a Validation Workshop on Operationalizing a Pilot Carbon Tax in Nigeria’s Telecommunications Sector held Tuesday in Abuja, the Regional Lead of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Regional Collaboration Centre for West and Central Africa (UNFCCC RCC WAC Africa), Mr. Walter Tubua, said the initiative aims to incentivize environmentally responsible practices rather than impose burdensome taxation.
“The idea is not to tax carbon but to incentivize positive behavior and enable innovative actions that align with climate goals,” Tubua explained. He emphasized that Nigeria’s engagement in the carbon tax initiative is entirely voluntary, and the country retains the discretion to adopt or modify policies based on its national priorities.
He noted that the UNFCCC’s regional centre responded to Nigeria’s request for technical support in exploring carbon pricing instruments and developing policy options suited to its national context. According to him, Nigeria selected the telecommunications sector as a pilot area to test the mechanism, with the potential to expand to other sectors in the future.
“The purpose is to help Nigeria fully understand and carefully consider carbon pricing instruments within its own context,” Tubua added.
In her remarks, the Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), Mrs. Omoteniyo Majekodunmi, called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the nation achieves its carbon finance and emission reduction goals.
Represented by a senior officer of the Council, Mrs. Benedette Ejiofor, Majekodunmi said the Council’s efforts are guided by its statutory mandate under the Climate Change Act, 2021, which provides a framework for achieving low greenhouse gas emissions and sustainable green growth.
“Our work today is not discretionary; it is a direct fulfillment of our statutory obligation,” she stated. “Nigeria’s long-term commitment is to achieve Net-Zero emissions by 2060 through clear, actionable steps for economy-wide absolute emissions reduction, as advised by the Global Stocktake.”
She stressed the importance of ensuring that funds generated through the carbon tax are strategically reinvested to make the policy equitable, efficient, and development-oriented.
Majekodunmi concluded by urging stakeholders to “strengthen institutional relationships and build the consensus needed to operationalize this pilot,” adding that the urgency of the climate crisis demands immediate and coordinated action.
