The Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency (REA), Mr Abba Aliyu, has emphasised the need for aligning sector strategies to meet the country’s net-zero commitments.
Net zero means achieving a balance between the carbon emitted into the atmosphere and the carbon removed from it.
Aliyu made the call at a workshop organised by the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN) with the theme “Aligning Sector Strategies with Net Zero Commitments” in Abuja on Thursday, June 27, 2024.
Aliyu, who was represented by Ms Ngozi Chimdi-Ejiogu, an acting director in REA, stressed the critical importance of Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the Energy Transition Plan (ETP) in the country’s journey towards a sustainable future.
He noted that Nigeria was committed to significantly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions under the Paris Agreement.
“In July 2021, the nation reaffirmed its pledge to reduce emissions by 20 per cent below business-as-usual levels by 2030, with plans to increase this reduction to 47 per cent contingent on international support.
“The Federal Ministry of Environment’s 2021 NDC update highlighted the energy sector as the largest emitter, responsible for 60 per cent of emissions, primarily from oil and gas activities, transport, electricity generation and residential and industrial energy consumption.
“Agriculture, forestry, waste, and industrial processes also contribute to the country’s overall emissions,” he said.
Aliyu outlined a multi-faceted strategy to bridge the gap between sectors and align with Nigeria’s NDCs and ETP.
This strategy, according to him, includes strengthening policy and regulatory frameworks by developing sector-specific roadmaps and incentivizing sustainable practices.
Reflecting on the REA’s achievements, Aliyu highlighted the success of programmes like the Nigeria Electrification Project (NEP), which had demonstrated significant strides in providing energy access.
“The REA is now focused on scaling these solutions by developing large-scale clean energy projects, driving economic impact beyond energy access, creating innovative financing solutions and strategic partnerships, stimulating demand for reliable power, and providing avenues for local and blended financing.
“The REA has already made substantial progress, with over 160 MW of clean energy deployed, 1.8 million connections made, impacting over 7 million Nigerians, and reducing carbon emissions by 1.6 million tonnes.
“The upcoming Distributed Access to Renewable Energy Scale up (DARES) Project aligns with the Paris Agreement, ensuring that all financed activities are consistent with Nigeria’s climate commitments, he explained.
He further explained the importance of a collective effort to meet Nigeria’s conditional and unconditional contributions, recognising the vital role each sector played in maintaining the global 1.5°C pathway.
He, therefore, called for continuous collaborative efforts to align strategies with Nigeria’s net-zero commitments, urging active participation from all stakeholders.
Aliyu expressed confidence that the deliberations and collaborations from the dialogue would significantly contribute to the global effort to align sector strategies and build a more sustainable, equitable, and energy-secure future for Nigeria.
On his part, Mr Somkele Awa-Kalu from Sustainable Energy for All/Energy Transition Office, in an interview with newsmen on Nigeria’s energy transition, explained the nation’s progress towards a sustainable, low-carbon economy.
He added that the workshop aimed to assess Nigeria’s journey towards this goal and to delve into the implementation of the Energy Transition Plan by the Energy Transition Office.
Awa-Kalu underscored the importance of understanding recent developments in the energy transition and highlighted the long-standing collaboration with key stakeholders in the renewable energy landscape, including the Energy Transition Office.
He added that the workshop would address the need for enhanced partnerships within the renewable energy sector, which he described as both nascent and essential.
He called for stakeholders to support one another, align their objectives, and collaborate to facilitate and accelerate the energy transition.
In his presentation, Awa-Kalu stressed the necessity of improving access to low-cost financing for renewable energy projects.
He highlighted the importance of the Energy Transition Plan within the framework of the Renewed Hope Agenda, a key focus of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
Awa-Kalu urged stakeholders to work together to ensure the availability of appropriate financing and an enabling environment, including supportive policies, to advance renewable energy objectives.
The workshop aims at significant step in Nigeria’s commitment to achieving a low-carbon economy, reinforcing the collaborative efforts required to meet the nation’s renewable energy goals.
By Philomina Attah
