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Paper short abstract:

The paper uses the example of the cleaner transport policy of the Borno State Government in Nigeria to advance theoretical and practical understanding of how multilevel actions could be optimised to drive desirable just and fair energy transition outcomes in fragile-conflictual contexts.

Paper long abstract:

The quest to promote transitions from fossil fuel to cleaner energy in response to the climate crisis places responsibility on the government as the key actor in driving action. In African contexts, this is often clear at national levels where governments have more power, clearer authority, and direct control over resources. Subnational governments operate in more complex spaces tied to multilevel dynamics, often needing to balance national policy, subnational preferences, and their contextual realities. Doing this involves opportunities and risks of local governance, requiring innovations that address gaps and promote inclusion. Thus, how can subnational governments promote a just and fair transition when faced with these multilevel dynamics? In seeking answers, I focus on Borno State in North-East Nigeria, where the government has deployed electric-hybrid vehicles and compressed natural gas-powered vehicles for public transport as a dual-edged response to the cost-of-living crisis that followed the national government’s cancellation of fuel subsidies. I attempt to unravel how this cleaner transport initiative fits with the global narrative of addressing the climate crisis, how effectively the policy provides for wider multi-stakeholder consultation, and the extent to which these might represent an African model of a just and fair transition. I draw evidence from interviews with key state and non-state stakeholders in Borno, supplemented with key government reports, media articles, and other grey literature. While highlighting the opportunities and challenges inherent in just transition in fragile contexts, I advance theoretical and practical understanding of how multilevel actions could be optimised to drive desirable outcomes.