The Federal Government has unveiled plan to produce over four million tonnes of green ammonia annually by 2060 as part of efforts to transition from fossil fuels to cleaner energy and boost local fertiliser production.
The target was disclosed at the Nigeria for Hydrogen (Nigeria4H2) Stakeholders’ Workshop held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where top government officials, development partners, and academia convened to review the country’s green hydrogen prospects, a statement by the organiser said on Saturday.
This was as Vice President Kashim Shettima has called for investment in the production of green hydrogen as part of efforts to diversify Nigeria’s energy mix and tap into the fast-growing global green economy.
He said the green hydrogen project would create new economic opportunities for the country.
He pointed out that the nation’s abundant sunlight and wind resources can be harnessed to generate the clean electricity required for green hydrogen production.
The Vice President, represented by his Special Adviser on Economic Affairs, Tope Fasua, said the Nigeria4H2 Project was a “strategic and decisive” response to global climate imperatives, stressing that the initiative represents Nigeria’s commitment to building a resilient, green economy.
“The Nigeria 4H2 Project represents our strategic and decisive response to this global imperative. It is our unequivocal commitment to a future where energy security and environmental stewardship are not mutually exclusive but are, in fact, inextricably linked.
“At its core, this project is designed to unlock Nigeria’s vast and untapped potential in green hydrogen, a clean, versatile, and abundant energy carrier that can revolutionise our economy and secure our place in the 21st-century energy market.
“This project is designed to unlock Nigeria’s vast and untapped potential in green hydrogen, a clean, versatile, and abundant energy carrier that can revolutionise our 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.
Nigeria is uniquely positioned to become a leader in this burgeoning industry. We are blessed with abundant sunlight and wind resources that can be harnessed to generate the clean electricity required for green hydrogen production. Our strategic geographical location and our skilled, youthful population provide the essential ingredients for a successful and scalable green hydrogen economy,” he said.
While noting that the project could face capital investment difficulties at the initial stage, he held that “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 added, “We must approach this endeavour with a spirit of collaboration and foresight. 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 reliance on volatile fossil fuel markets, and attract significant foreign direct investment.”
The Nigeria4H2 project, led by the West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use in partnership with Nigerian universities and the German Government, explores green hydrogen’s potential in fertiliser production through green ammonia, a sustainable alternative to conventional nitrogen-based fertilisers.
Speaking at the event, WASCAL Executive Director, Prof. Emmanuel Ramde, said the country could generate over four million tonnes of green ammonia annually by 2060 under three forward-looking production scenarios.
“We are proud to report that, under the 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.
“The scenarios indicate that with the right investments, clear regulatory frameworks, and adequate infrastructure, Nigeria could generate over four million tonnes of green ammonia annually by 2060 to produce fertiliser.
This would enhance support for farmers, reduce dependence on imported fertilisers, strengthen national food systems, and create thousands of green jobs across the value chain.
“With the right investments, clear regulatory frameworks, and adequate infrastructure, Nigeria could not only meet its fertiliser needs but also emerge as a global player in the green economy,” he said.
Ramde noted that the country’s abundant solar and wind resources, coupled with vast water reserves and a youthful population, offer unique competitive advantages.
“This would enhance support for farmers, reduce dependence on imported fertilisers, strengthen food systems, and create thousands of green jobs across the value chain,” he added.
The study also recommends the development of a national green hydrogen strategy, investment in renewable infrastructure, domestic electrolyser production, and integration of green ammonia into Nigeria’s fertiliser policy.
In a keynote, Director-General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, represented by Ibrahim Sulu, disclosed that a National Hydrogen Policy and Strategy had been developed to guide the country’s low-carbon energy transition.
“Hydrogen has been recognised in Nigeria’s energy policy since 2003, but now we have moved forward by drafting a National Hydrogen Policy and Strategy document that aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Sulu said.
He said the document provides a comprehensive roadmap to decarbonise industries, secure energy supply, drive innovation, and attract private investment.
According to him, the phased implementation of the policy begins from 2026 to 2028, with pilot projects including a 50mw green hydrogen plant at the Kano Solar Park, hybrid rural microgrids, and carbon capture initiatives.
“By 2035, we aim to attract $5bn in private investment, create 500,000 new jobs, and generate $10bn in annual hydrogen export revenue,” he stated.
He further announced the proposed establishment of a National Hydrogen Council, chaired by the Vice President, and two subcommittees focusing on domestic applications and hydrogen exports.
“Hydrogen has the potential to reduce our industrial CO₂ emissions by 20% by 2030,” Sulu said, urging stakeholders to partner on technology transfer, policy advocacy, and pilot projects such as hydrogen-powered trucks and BRT buses in Lagos.
He noted that the Energy Commission would lead the energy security pillar of Nigeria’s Inter-Ministerial Committee on Research and Innovation, inaugurated in May, with green hydrogen identified as a strategic national priority.
Shettima, in his remarks, urged the private sector and academia to “demonstrate ingenuity and resolve” in building local capacity, fostering partnerships, and ensuring inclusive dialogue in the green hydrogen space.
“This is not a task for the government alone. It requires the collective genius, capital, and unwavering commitment of all stakeholders,” he said. “Let us work hand in hand to unlock Nigeria’s green hydrogen potential and secure a future of renewed hope for all.”