By Okhide Em’ya David
Environmental Rights Action/Friends of the Earth Nigeria (ERA/FoEN) has tasked the Federal and State Government of Nigeria to diversify national energy sources to encourage non-state actors, including NGOs and energy cooperatives, to develop mini-grid and off-grid solar energy systems.
Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo, Executive Director of the organization gave the advice at the flag off of a stakeholders’ forum with the theme “Post Petroleum Economy for Nigeria” during the week.
Dr. Ojo specifically called on the federal government to halt investments in oil and gas sectors and channel such public funds, loans and subsidies from them to massive investments in renewable energy sector.
He said such investment in renewable Energy Sector will promote greater energy access by all Nigerians and put an end to fossil fuel development and show commitment for renewable energy options that could grow to become the renewable energy hub for West Africa.
His words: “Nigeria’s Green Bond, in particular and the Bank of Industry should support and step up investments to individuals and Community Energy Cooperatives in the renewable energy sector.
“Encourage the renewable energy sector through subsidies, grants, and tax holidays including elimination or reduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT) from the current level of 7.5% as a crucial step to encouraging the transition.
“Demonstrate political will and reduce corruption for renewable energy to thrive in Nigeria.
Inclusion of renewable energy technologies and climate change in the school curriculum to empower the youths and make them solutions to the national energy poverty.”
Uyi-Ojo also called on the Civil Society Groups to increase advocacy and policy engagement with the government to embrace renewable energy and take action to put an end to oil and gas development.
Nigeria government, he advised, should encourage a national renewable energy policy that recognizes state and non-state actors in a decentralized energy production system as crucial for realizing the country’s existing huge gaps in citizens’ access to electricity.Show original message
A participant at the stakeholders forum with the theme, Mr. Habiba Ali said to overcome challenges facing the transition to renewable energy solutions action is needed on the part of the government, civil societies and the communities to make the transition possible.
He added that for example, government’s intervention through subsidies, grants, and tax holidays are crucial steps to achieving the much desired transition.
Habiba Ali said outside the challenge of Political will, outside corruption in government establishments, Nigeria’s Bank of Industry should step up support and investments in the renewable energy sector.
On her part, another participant Jennifer Ero, founder of Society for the Empowerment of Young Persons, SEYP said delay in the shift to renewable energy sources development in Nigeria means that the country is being left behind in the new global energy transition.
It was a Consensus that Nigeria will pay a huge price of becoming a dumping ground for cleaner technologies and products, and can speedily become the renewable energy hub of West Africa if it makes the right investment on human capital development especially with youths at the front burner of sustainable development and in the generation of green jobs that are far more rewarding with high employment absorption than oil and gas.
