By Bisola Adeyemo
Vice- President Yemi Osinbajo has promised that Nigeria will achieve at least 30 percent of its total electricity supply from renewable energy in the next nine years.
According to a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, the Vice President said this during inauguration of a 1.12 MW Captive Solar Hybrid Power Plant at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
The message was delivered virtually with the tittle ‘Why Nigeria is changing to cleaner energy.”
According to the statement the project was executed under the Energising Education Programme, (EEP) an initiative of the Federal Government aiming to provide 37 federal universities and seven teaching hospitals with captive energy solutions that would ensure sustainable and reliable power for students and faculties.
Akande quoted the Vice President as saying that with the inauguration, Nigeria’s energy transition plan to renewables is on course.
The plan, he said is in line with the globally endorsed Climate Change agenda and the BFG targets 30% renewable energy by 2030uhari administration’s effort to connect more communities to off-grid power and reliable energy sources.
Osinbajo said, “Renewables are the fastest-growing segments of energy today and will certainly be a key economic driver well into the future.”
“Nigeria intends to have 30 percent of its electricity supply from renewables by the year 2030,” he added.
“Our future workforce therefore needs to be ready for this energy transition.
“The training centres constitute a critical additional benefit of this project.”
The Vice President said the programme confirmed the validity of the Federal Government’s commitment to global best practice as the country transits to cleaner sources of energy in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.
He added, “These projects being implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency are strategic to fulfilling our commitments to the agreement as they strive to reduce Nigeria’s carbon footprint.
“The leveraging of renewable energy technology is in line with the Federal Government’s mandate and related activities.
“Nigeria’s plan to reduce carbon emission by 20 percent unconditionally and 45 percent with international support by 2030, aims to limit the damaging effect of climate change,” he stated.
Osinbajo said, “At least 22,000 students and faculties across the country were already connected to completed projects in Kano, Ebonyi, Benue, and Bauchi states.
“Apart from providing a reliable source of captive power for these institutions, each institution would have a renewable energy workshop and a centre to provide training to students in renewable energy.”