Govt to promote renewable energy usage

The Federal Government has expressed its commitment to implement policies and programmes that would drive renewable energy usage in the country. This utilisation is expected to attract financing partners like development banks, international development agencies and other financial options in supporting the transition to a cleaner energy Nigeria.

President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed this in his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the fifth Nigeria Alternative Energy Expo (NAEE 2015) with the theme ‘Consolidating Energy Transformation Gains’ in Abuja.

Buhari said that with global investors looking closely at the energy opportunities in Nigeria, the government has commitment to establish a level playing ground, with encouraging policies and incentives, stressing that the administration is also developing infrastructure to ensure environmental sustainability and internationally accepted standards to light up more homes and businesses with renewable energy.

“We will continue to promote Renewable Energy programmes that will integrate the objectives of all, inclusive green economy and attract financing partners like development banks, international development agencies and other financial options for supporting the transition to a cleaner Energy in Nigeria,” he added.

He explained that this year’s gathering will also see the launch of the ‘G2020’ an initiative of the Nigeria Alternative Energy Expo (NAEE) supported by Government, private sector and other financiers responding to the urgent need of over 170 million Nigerians to embrace energy efficiency as a national culture for a sustainable future.

Buhari, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Amb. Godknows Igali, added that the G2020 programme is aimed at generating 20MW of Green Energy by the year 2020.

According to him, “the project plans to supply clean electricity to Homes, Schools, Health Centres and Police Stations in rural areas as a way of accelerating development across the nation. The programme will also offer technical training on green energy to the target participants and thus provide employment opportunities to our youth,”

He further stated that the performance of the power sector is crucial and critical to the survival of the industrial sector and the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which serves as the bedrock for the development of any society

“It is a known fact that despite the tremendous improvements recorded in the power sector, generally, there is still a substantial power deficit both in generating, transmitting and distributing adequate power to meet the actual needs of the country.

“Although the challenges in the power sector are enormous, the opportunities are overwhelming.

As a result, government is doing everything possible to attract massive investment in the power sector to ensure regular and steady electricity supply for a viable and sustainable development”, added.