By Jemimah Wellington, JKNewsMedia Correspondent
NIGERIA’s PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has demanded a fair and inclusive global energy transition, stressing that the shift to cleaner energy must not endanger the economic prospects of developing nations.
Addressing leaders at the 17th Summit of the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) in Khankhendi, Azerbaijan, Tinubu highlighted the urgency of building a climate-resilient future amid increasing droughts, floods, desertification, and extreme heat. His message, delivered on Friday by Budget and Economic Planning Minister Senator Abubakar Bagudu, emphasised the need for global cooperation that prioritises equitable access to clean energy and infrastructure.
Nigeria, he said, supports a just energy transition grounded in the country’s dual capacity for fossil and renewable energy. Tinubu called for investment in regional power pools, wider access to renewable technologies, and greater technical cooperation between ECO members. He warned that climate-related shocks are already triggering food insecurity, economic disruption, and mass displacement—issues that require urgent, collaborative responses.
While reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to climate adaptation, Tinubu noted that the country’s current National Development Plan, which concludes in 2025, is already aligning with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. A new plan, he confirmed, will be launched for 2026–2030 with climate change, mitigation, and green industrialisation at its core.
He said true sustainability depends on interconnected economies and resilient infrastructure. He urged ECO countries to unite in building smart energy systems, harmonised trade routes, and integrated logistics that could link Africa more efficiently with global markets.
Nigeria, he added, will advocate for a fortified ECO-Africa Trade Corridor with streamlined tariffs, unified customs systems, and multimodal transport networks. A central part of this strategy will be managing the transition from fossil fuels in a way that balances environmental targets with the economic realities of emerging economies.
Tinubu also pushed for inclusive growth, asserting that the benefits of energy reform, trade, and infrastructure must reach grassroots communities—particularly youth, rural farmers, women entrepreneurs, and fishing and livestock workers. He called on ECO to support digital inclusion, gender equity, and climate finance at local levels through public-private partnerships focused on regenerative agriculture and green entrepreneurship.
He said the path to 2030 must be paved with policies that ensure no community is left behind. Echoing COP29 goals, Tinubu urged ECO to act as a unified front for climate justice, equitable financing, and fair global trade.
“Nigeria stands ready to support climate actions, invest in innovation, and protect our most vulnerable populations. Let our unity serve as both a shield and a ladder for resilience and shared prosperity,” he said.
Calling the summit a defining moment, he challenged ECO to lead by example. “Let us imagine a future where our highways do not just move goods, but connect dreams. Where our power grids light up not just cities, but ideas. Where trade becomes a tool not for competition but for cooperation and peace.”
He expressed appreciation to Azerbaijan’s President Heydar Oghlu Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan for hosting the summit amid global economic volatility.
Aliyev, in his address, noted Azerbaijan’s active leadership in the ECO. He highlighted recent initiatives such as the ECO Business Forum in Shusha, the Youth Forum in Aghdam, and the Women’s Forum in Lachin. He confirmed that Azerbaijan would host ECO’s Research and Clean Energy Centres and welcomed the declaration of Shusha as ECO’s 2026 Tourism Capital.
The Azerbaijani leader also underscored the country’s role as a regional energy hub, exporting gas to 12 countries and attracting nearly $350 billion in foreign investment over two decades. Azerbaijan’s location along key East-West and North-South transport corridors, he noted, is central to ECO’s regional strategy.
Formed in 1985 by Iran, Turkey, and Pakistan, ECO now includes Afghanistan, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. The summit reaffirmed the bloc’s commitment to economic, technical, and cultural integration.
