Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for increased investment in green hydrogen as part of Nigeria’s strategy to transition from its dependence on the volatile global fossil fuel market.
Speaking on Friday at the Nigeria 4H₂ Project Results Workshop and End-of-Project Stakeholders Interaction in Abuja, the Vice President, represented by his Special Adviser on Economic Affairs, Dr. Tope Fasua, said Nigeria must leverage its abundant renewable resources to unlock the potential of green hydrogen for a more sustainable and diversified economy.
“Green hydrogen, produced from renewable sources such as solar and wind power, offers a compelling pathway to diversify our energy mix, reduce our carbon footprint, and create new economic opportunities,” Shettima said.
He emphasised that while Nigeria’s oil and gas reserves have driven economic growth for decades, a shift towards cleaner alternatives is essential. “The clarion call for a sustainable, decarbonised future remains real,” he noted.
The Vice President described the Nigeria 4H₂ project—a German-supported initiative exploring the feasibility of green hydrogen-to-fertiliser production in Nigeria—as a strategic response to the global energy transition.
According to Shettima, the project is expected to stimulate job creation across sectors such as engineering, manufacturing, logistics, and research. “The economic ramifications of this project are colossal. By positioning ourselves as a major producer and exporter of green hydrogen, we can create a new stream of revenue, reduce our reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets, and attract significant foreign direct investment,” he stated.
Highlighting Nigeria’s renewable energy advantage, he added, “We are blessed with an abundance of sunlight and wind resources that can be harnessed to generate the clean electricity required for green hydrogen production.”
Shettima called for a united effort from all stakeholders—government agencies, private sector players, academic institutions, and international partners—to actualise the vision.
In a related development, Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, represented by the Director of Renewable Energy, Ibrahim Sulu, revealed that the commission has drafted a national hydrogen policy and strategy to guide the country’s transition.
The strategy includes a roadmap targeting $5 billion in private investment, the creation of 500,000 jobs by 2035, and an estimated $10 billion in annual revenue from hydrogen exports.
Also speaking at the event, Executive Director of the West African Science Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), Prof. Emmanuel Ramde, outlined some of the critical challenges Nigeria faces, including limited electricity access, fertiliser shortages, food insecurity, and fossil fuel dependence.
He disclosed that the Nigeria 4H₂ project, initiated by WASCAL in partnership with Nigerian universities such as the Federal University of Technology, Akure; Afe Babalola University; and the Federal University of Technology, Minna, had yielded promising results.
“We are proud to report that under three forward-looking production scenarios developed within the framework of this study, Nigeria has the potential not only to meet a significant share of its domestic fertiliser demand through green ammonia but also to establish itself as a global player in the emerging green economy,” Ramde said.
He added that the study projects Nigeria could generate over 4 million tonnes of green ammonia annually by 2060, given the right investments, policies, and infrastructure.
