By John Ikani
President Muhammadu Buhari has restated the commitment of the Nigerian Government towards ensuring that there is a rapid and strategic transition to renewable energy in response to the worldwide efforts for the preservation of the environment.
This is contained in a statement issued on Thursday by Mr Femi Adesina, the President’s media aide, on the sidelines of a Leaders’ Closed-Door Meeting on Climate Change convened by the Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Antonio Guterres.
The President disclosed that Nigeria had in August this year, launched a home-grown, data-backed, multi-pronged energy transition plan, which is the country’s framework for achieving net-zero emissions by 2060.
He said the data-backed energy transition plan highlights the use of renewable energy technologies to transform Nigeria into a clean energy-led economy.
Nigeria’s energy transition plan is projected to create 340,000 jobs by 2030 and up to 840,000 jobs by 2060, driven by the transportation, clean cooking and power sectors.
According to him, emerging technologies like hydrogen and bioenergy would create pathways for low-carbon development in the country.
In his statement, Buhari shared a few details from the plan and shared his confidence in Nigeria’s energy transition plan, which he said would put Nigeria on a path to prosperity.
“The clean energy goals of the plan include modernizing the power sector with large-scale integration of renewable energy, enhancing energy efficiency and conservation; and is expected to generate 250 gigawatts of installed energy capacity with over 90% made up of renewables,” he said.
Buhari, whose administrative tenure comes to an end by May 2023, said the implementation of the energy transition plan will provide investment opportunities for Nigeria, especially in the area of natural gas for industrialization and power supply.
In his speech, he made reference to the possibilities that solar energy, e-mobility, and hydrogen production could give Nigeria, going forward.
He commended Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi for his tireless efforts in the preparations for the COP27 and assured him of the support of the Nigerian Government.
