Exploring the Dynamics of Poverty, Public‐Private Partnerships on Nigeria's Environmental Sustainability

ABSTRACT This study examines Nigeria's ecological footprint, addressing a significant gap in comprehensive research on how poverty, public‐private partnerships (PPPs), GDP (economic growth), and renewable energy use impact environment. Using data from 1990 to 2023, the analysis explores the relationship between these economic indicators and Nigeria's ecological footprint. The Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) model, with FMOLS, DOLS, and CCR robustness tests, were employed to ensure reliability. Key findings from the ARDL approach indicate that: (i) Poverty and GDP increase the ecological footprint; (ii) PPPs eventually lessen the ecological footprint; (iii) Using renewable energy reduces short‐term ecological imprint. The long‐term ARDL results are in line with those from FMOLS, DOLS, as well as CCR tests, reinforcing the need for coordinated policymaking to address Nigeria's environmental degradation. The study emphasizes the importance of leveraging PPPs to promote sustainable energy use and effective waste disposal practices. It underscores the need for grassroots conscientization and environmental media campaigns to enhance overall environmental quality.