Urban Air Quality and Energy Transitions in the Niger Delta: Integrating Cleaner Fuels into Regional Planning Frameworks

Abstract This research explores the connections that urban air quality in the Niger Delta has got many energy transitions. It also pays attention to the adoption of cleaner fuels into regional planning. More specifically, it evaluates how the adoption of low-emission energy technologies in the Niger Delta’s urban centers is shaped by policy, governance arrangements, and energy planning practices. According to the primary data collected from the interviews of the stakeholder, field visits to key urban area with most advanced systems of solid waste management and secondary data collected from the government reports, legislation and refereed journal literature the study followed a Mixed Method Approach The effectiveness of cleaner fuel rollout and regulatory compliance is assessed through spatial mapping, policy analysis, and thematic content analysis as analytical techniques. The main findings revealed that fossil fuel dependence, poor energy regulation enforcement and a lack of integration of urban planning are behind air pollution hotspots. Renewable and decentralized energy solutions, notably clean cooking and mini-grid solar systems, have substantial potential to improve air quality and enhance energy equity. The research results reveal that coordinated policy frameworks, improved governance and inclusion in planning is key for effective energy transitions in the Niger Delta. Recommendations call for reforms to the regulation of refinery emissions, promotion of renewable energy and spatial planning for energy siting. In the Niger Delta context, we can see how energy, policy, and air quality can fit together, thus adding to knowledge. This knowledge adds to the theory and practice of sustainable urban energy transitions.