The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled the Nigeria Beyond Oil and Gas Alliance (BOGA) Fund Programme, a two-year initiative aimed at mapping economic risks and opportunities in Nigeria’s shifting energy landscape and driving long-term diversification beyond oil and gas.

At the launch in Abuja, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, emphasized that diversification must be environmentally responsible, technologically driven, and rooted in local economic strengths. He explained that the goal is not only to reduce dependence on oil revenues but also to apply science, technology, and skills to traditional sectors such as agriculture, fishing, artisanal mining, and woodwork to generate higher value in a climate-smart manner.

Drawing lessons from international examples, Bagudu cited Norway, which has sustained strong fishing, agricultural, and cultural industries despite being a major energy producer, and Netherlands, which uses technology and efficient value chains to export agricultural products exceeding Nigeria’s peak oil earnings.

Bagudu revealed that the government is implementing a framework that maps economic potential at the ward level, identifying local strengths and connecting communities with financing, skills, and technology to scale productivity responsibly. For example, fishing communities could access support to meet global seafood standards, while farmers could adopt improved seedlings and climate-resilient practices.

In her keynote address, Director-General of the National Council on Climate Change, Omotenioye Majekodunmi, said the programme signals Nigeria’s evolution from an oil powerhouse to a green energy leader. “Our collaboration with BOGA reinforces our commitment to the 1.5°C pathway while ensuring a development trajectory that is fair, funded, and people-centered,” she said.

Sian Bradley, Head of the BOGA Secretariat, noted that the programme will help Nigeria plan an orderly transition, reduce methane and upstream emissions, and advance decarbonisation efforts. Olumide Abimbola, Executive Director of Africa Policy Research Institute, the programme’s lead implementing partner, added that BOGA will clarify how global energy changes affect revenues, jobs, industries, and communities, while identifying actionable pathways and policies for economic diversification.

Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, Director-General of the Society for Planet and Prosperity, highlighted that the challenge is not merely to move away from fossil fuels, but to manage global energy risks and opportunities strategically. He described the BOGA Fund Programme as anchored in evidence, economic realism, and justice for workers and communities.

The initiative is implemented by APRI in collaboration with SPP, under the leadership of the National Council on Climate Change, which coordinated a cross-government working group including the Ministry of Petroleum, National Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, National Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Ministry of Environment, and Nigerian National Petroleum Company. The programme complements national and international climate efforts by providing an integrated platform for evidence-based policymaking, institutional coordination, and long-term economic resilience.