The Federal Government, yesterday, launched Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan to tackle the chalenges of energy poverty, climate change and employment.
Speaking at a virtual global meeting, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said among other things, the Plan would lift 100 million people out of poverty, reduce Nigeria’s carbon footprint, drive economic growth and create jobs.
He said it was time Nigeria and the African continent took ownership of transition pathways and design climate-sensitive strategies that address peculiar growth objectives.
A statement by Laolu Akande quoted the VP as saying: “Nigeria would need to spend $410 billion above business-as-usual spending to deliver our Transition Plan by 2060, which translates to about $10 billion per year. The average $3 billion per year investments in renewable energy recorded for the whole of Africa between 2000 and 2020 will certainly not suffice.”
He highlighted the significant scale of resources required to attain both development and climate ambitions saying Africa’s increasing energy gaps required collaboration to take ownership of the continent’s transition pathways and the action should be decisive and urgent.
“For Africa, the problem of energy poverty is as important as our climate ambitions. Energy use is crucial for almost every conceivable aspect of development; wealth, health, nutrition, water, infrastructure, education, and life expectancy are significantly related to the consumption of energy per capita. Nigeria would need to spend $410 billion above business-as-usual spending to deliver our transition plan by 2060, which translates to about 10 billion dollars per year. The average $3 billion per year investments in renewable energy recorded for the whole of Africa between 2000 and 2020 will certainly not suffice.”
The vice president chaired the inter-ministerial Energy Transition Implementation Working Group. According to him, the group is currently engaging with partners to secure an initial $10 billion support package ahead of COP27 along the lines of the South African Just Energy Transition Partnership announced at COP26 in Glasgow.
On the effects of Climate Change in Africa, he explained that climate change threatened crop productivity in regions that were already food insecure, and since agriculture provides the largest number of jobs, reduced crop productivity will worsen unemployment.
“It is certainly time for decisive action, and we just cannot afford to delay. African nations are rising to the challenge. All African countries have signed the Paris Agreement and some countries, South Africa, Sudan, Angola, and Nigeria have also announced net-zero targets.
“The current lack of power hurts livelihoods and destroys the dreams of hundreds of millions of young people. And although Africa’s current unmet energy needs are huge, future demand will be even greater due to expanding populations, urbanization, and movement into the middle class.
“It is clear that the continent must address its energy constraints and would require external support and policy flexibility to deliver this.
“Unfortunately, in the wider responses to the climate crisis, we are not seeing careful consideration and acknowledgement of Africa’s aspirations.”
On other aspirations of the roadmap, Osinbajo said explained that the Plan had the potential to create about 340,000 jobs by 2030, and 840,000 by 2060. He said it also presented a unique opportunity to deliver a true low-carbon and rapid development model in Africa’s largest economy.
The launch also featured remarks from government officials, including, ministers of environment, Mr. Mohammed Abdullahi; power, Abubakar Aliyu; power (state) Goddy Jedy Agba; works and housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola; finance, budget and national planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed; group managing director of Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Mr Mele Kyari; managing director, Rural Electrification Agency, Ahmad Salihijo, deputy secretary-general, United Nations, Amina Mohammed, minister of petroleum and energies from Senegal, Dr. Aissatou Sophie Gladima and minister of electricity and renewable energy from Egypt, Prof. Dr. Mohamed Shaker El-Markabi.
SUN NEWS
