SEO Riders:
– Climate experts credit Buhari with signing the Climate Change Act and establishing Nigeria’s climate governance architecture.
– Issuance of sovereign green bonds and the debut National Climate Council enhanced Nigeria’s global credibility.
– Critics warn many policies lacked effective implementation, especially on gas flaring reduction, oil spill cleanup, and environmental disaster response.
A former insider has provided a candid reflection on the late President Muhammadu Buhari’s climate legacy, acknowledging how his administration elevated Nigeria’s standing on the world stage through landmark actions. Notably, Buhari signed the Climate Change Act in November 2021, which created the National Council on Climate Change and set legally binding carbon budgeting timelines aligned with Nigeria’s net-zero commitments by 2050–70. Observers also point to Nigeria’s issuance of the continent’s first sovereign green bonds, and the formal incorporation of climate intent into national budgets, as clear indicators of leadership and international ambition.
However, the reflection also notes missed opportunities in the practical execution of Buhari’s environmental agenda. While gas-flaring legislation and hazard mitigation plans were approved, enforcement remained weak, and high-impact disasters—from pipeline spills to flooding—revealed gaps in disaster response and remediation efforts. Critics highlighted that projects such as Ogoniland cleanup progressed slowly, and measures aimed at reversing effects of climate disasters were often underfunded or poorly coordinated. In sum, the legacy is described as one rooted in legislative and diplomatic strengths—but tempered by faltering implementation at state and community levels.
