- Nigeria and California signed a five-year MoU at COP30 to advance clean energy, technology transfer, and sustainable development.
- The deal focuses on green transportation, low-carbon fuels, and climate resilience, aligning with Nigeria’s transition goals.
Nigeria and the U.S. state of California have signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation on clean technology, renewable energy, and sustainable development.
The agreement, signed on the sidelines of the COP30 UN climate summit in Belém, focuses on advancing sustainable urban transport, green ports, low-carbon fuels, climate adaptation, methane abatement, greenhouse gas reduction, and improving air quality. It also provides for academic exchanges and university partnerships to promote knowledge sharing, technology transfer, and innovation in clean energy and the broader green economy.
Tenioye Majekodunmi, Director-General of Nigeria’s National Council on Climate Change (NCCC), signed the MoU on behalf of Nigeria, describing the partnership as a signal of the country’s readiness to attract global investment and accelerate climate-smart growth.
“This MoU with California is about collaboration, technology transfer, and building sustainable partnerships,” Majekodunmi said. “It shows that Nigeria is ready for climate business and committed to identifying opportunities that strengthen our economy while building resilience.”
She said discussions leading to the deal began earlier this year when a California delegation visited Nigeria, adding that the partnership aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s renewable energy priorities and the country’s broader energy diversification plan.
“We recognise our fossil dependence, but we’re taking deliberate steps toward a sustainable energy transition. This agreement marks a step toward cleaner, more resilient growth,” she added.
Furthermore, California Governor Gavin Newsom stated that the partnership reflects the state’s long-standing leadership on climate issues and its renewed commitment to Africa.
“This agreement underscores how important Africa is to us,” Newsom said. “Even with gaps in national leadership, California continues to act at the subnational level. We’re a stable, reliable partner — and there’s no politics when it comes to building a low-carbon future.”
He said California’s clean energy transition enjoys strong bipartisan support, noting that “three-quarters of Californians back the state’s move toward a low-carbon economy.”
California Transportation Secretary Toks Omishakin, who signed the MoU for the state, said: “California is honoured to join Nigeria, a hub of trade, technology, and innovation, in working toward a cleaner, more connected future across continents.”
The signing took place amid tense climate diplomacy, as U.S. President Donald Trump had told the UN General Assembly this year that climate action was a “con job” and had declined to send a senior federal delegation to COP26 after withdrawing the United States from the Paris Agreement.