Development Agenda, a leading advocate for sustainable development in West Africa, is has announced the successful presentation of the comprehensive report and communique from our recent Energy Transition Symposium to the Honorable Ministers of State for Petroleum and Environment.
The organisation said the events marked a significant step forward in its efforts and those of its partners, the Ford Foundation, to integrate social justice and equity in the global energy transition and its implications for Nigeria.
The symposium, held on May 24, 2024, brought together key stakeholders from various sectors, including government officials, industry leaders, academics, and civil society representatives. The discussions focused on the theme: “Energy Transition in an Oil-dependent Economy.” It explored the challenges and opportunities presented by the global shift towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources.
The report and communique, compiled from the symposium’s findings and recommendations, provide a roadmap for Nigeria’s transition to a more sustainable and just energy future.
In his remarks during the presentations, Mr. Paddy Ezeala, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Development Agenda Magazine, highlighted the critical importance of a coordinated and just approach to energy transition.
He said, “Energy transition is not just an environmental necessity but an economic and social imperative. It requires the concerted efforts of all stakeholders to ensure that Nigeria can harness the benefits of sustainable energy while mitigating the associated challenges to ensure a just transition.”
The Ministers of State for Petroleum and Environment, Ekperikpe Ekpo and Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, respectively, expressed their appreciation for the report and commended Development Agenda for its proactive role in facilitating these crucial conversations.
The ministers reiterated the government’s commitment to advancing policies and initiatives that support a sustainable and just energy transition and acknowledged the valuable insights and recommendations provided in the symposium’s report.
Ekperikpe said: “Thank you for the presentation. We will take the time to review it thoroughly. I commend the organizers for supporting our energy transition efforts. President Bola Tinubu’s vision to create a cleaner environment includes supporting natural gas exploitation as a transition fuel. Nigeria, with its vast natural gas reserves, can benefit greatly from this approach. Natural gas is processed domestically and is more affordable than Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
“The advocacy by Development Agenda for cleaner energy is crucial for raising awareness among Nigerians. Although I couldn’t attend the event due to my busy schedule, I am pleased that my representation was well received. Thank you for your efforts, and I urge you to continue advocating for understanding of the federal government’s decision to withdraw fuel subsidies, which is aimed at leveraging our abundant gas reserves for a cleaner environment and reduced living costs. “Currently, a car that costs forty thousand Naira to fill with PMS can be filled with ten thousand Naira of CNG. Please help communicate this to Nigerians and ask for their patience with Mr. President’s efforts. We are also working on releasing conversion kits and establishing more CNG conversion centers. I commend the NNPC for setting up CNG filling stations in many states and salute Mr. President for his foresight.
“Investors are needed in the upstream sector to drive this transition. Full transition to CNG will help to end gas flaring. These policies are essential for the safety and prosperity of all Nigerians.”
Dr. Salako said: “I am happy to have you (Paddy Ezeala) here. Your experience in environmental conservation as a communication expert is really very important. One of the key challenges facing the environment sector is ignorance and lack of awareness. Many people unknowingly engage in activities harmful to the environment. For example, they may not understand the importance of other creatures in maintaining nature’s balance, which is why they might hesitate when asked not to kill animals. Last year, someone in the North killed an elephant and could not understand why anyone was upset, as the elephant had destroyed his crops. Similarly, people question why they should not cut down trees. This lack of awareness means that many government initiatives do not yield optimal results due to insufficient public buy-in.
“I thank you all for the symposium and the report presentation. I will review the report to identify actionable areas. Beyond justice, we must focus on local technologies and not blindly adopt Western solutions. Technologies like carbon capture and utilization or solar radiation modification often make us dependent on the West. We should emphasize our comparative advantages and technologies that resonate with our environment and culture. The Federal Ministry of Environment is committed to overseeing the energy transition plan concerning environmental impact.”
Key recommendations from the report include:
- Policy Development: Advocating for robust policies that incentivize investment in renewable energy and energy efficiency to ensure a just energy transition.
- Public-Private Partnerships: Encouraging collaboration between the government and private sector to drive innovation and infrastructure development.
- Capacity Building: Investing in education and training programs to equip the workforce with the necessary skills for the emerging green economy.
- Community Engagement: Ensuring that local communities are actively involved in the transition process and benefit from new economic opportunities.
Development Agenda is committed to continuing its work in promoting sustainable development and will remain actively engaged with all stakeholders to support the implementation of the symposium’s recommendations.
