A climate change expert, Prof. Chukwumerije Okereke, says there is a need to evolve workable strategy towards achieving Nigeria’s goal of 30 per cent total electricity supply from renewable energy by 2030.
Okereke, also a Visiting Professor at Oxford University in UK, and Director, Centre of Climate Change and Development (CCCD), made this known on Monday in a statement in Lagos.
He spoke while reacting to Vice President Yemi Osibanjo’s disclosure of the country’s commitment to achieving at least 30 per cent of its power supply from renewable energy by 2030.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Osinbajo reaffirmed Nigeria’s ambitious commitment to the target on Feb. 11, while inaugurating a 1.12 MW Solar Hybrid Project at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
Okereke, however, said that in as much as the commitment was commendable, the plan should be backed by a clear and bold plan of actions.
“There is a need to fashion a workable strategy toward achieving the target because as of today Nigeria is not on course to meet the pledge.
“So far, there have been several places where the government is missing it– namely political will, policy implementation and evaluation, financing and investment,” he said.
He said that the country’s 30 per cent renewable energy target signals that Nigeria was committed to the Paris Agreement and fulfilling its climate change action pledge as contained in the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
He added that it showed that Nigeria was cognisant of the global transition from fossil fuel and the vast opportunities that renewable energy provides for solving the country’s energy poverty and economic development challenges.
“With around 80 per cent of its rural population relying on wood, charcoal, dung, and other traditional biomass for cooking, there is no doubt that expanding access to affordable, reliable and clean household energy services is one of the most pressing developmental challenges facing Nigeria today,” Okereke said.
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The professor affirmed that the supply of adequate and affordable modern energy was a key enabler of other developmental sectors in the country.
“The fact that this commitment is coming from the Vice President at the period of COVID-19 pandemic, indicates that Nigerian government understands that COVID-19 should not be used as an excuse to focus on more fossil fuels and ignore investment in renewable energy as a central piece of the post-COVID-19 economic recovery.
“It is commendable that the government has embarked on Energising Education Programme (EEP).
“It is aimed at solving the energy deficit in all the 37 federal universities and seven teaching hospitals in the country by using renewable energy, with the programme having completed four projects at four different sites,” he said.
Okereke advised the Federal Government to create the enabling conditions required to ensure the successful achievement of the renewable energy target by 2030.
“These include: creating an enabling environment for private sector involvement, enhancing the adequacy and reliability of energy data using machine learning tools, innovation in critical technologies, which include smart systems, storage and utilisation, batteries.
“Setting out a long-term and holistic implementation plan with a clear strategy for finance, capacity building, and institutional development.
“That is specific to the renewable energy access sector alongside a friendly implementation process and adequate monitoring and evaluation plan,” Okereke said.
The expert said lack of access to modern energy was one of the greatest challenges and cause of poverty in the country. He said that the fight against climate change had helped to provide the global environment in favour of clean and renewable energy where Nigeria has strong competitive economic advantages.
“There is, therefore, an urgent need to give impetus to the 30 per cent renewable energy supply ambition by 2030 and find innovative ways to achieve the transition to sustainable energy in Nigeria.
“Strong words and promises are of course useful, but they will certainly not be enough,” Okereke said.
