Abuja, July 13, 2022. A roadmap on Nigeria’s engagements in the energy transition program is to be unveiled soon by Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).
The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, announced this in Abuja at a workshop held by NEITI in collaboration with Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) based in the United States.
Dr Orji explained that the road map will be comprehensive in content and with a framework that contains information and data to drive the implementation of the Federal Government’s overall Energy Transition Plan recently approved by the Federal Executive Council.
The NEITI Chief Executive also disclosed that the workshop was organized to seek the views and advise of NEITI’s Board and Senior Management Team as well as the collaboration of the NRGI in relation to the subject matter. The collaboration with the NRGI is part of NEITI’s ongoing stakeholders’ engagements that aim at developing the needed road map.
According to Dr. Orji, “The transition from carbon-based energy to renewable energy has far-reaching implications for the global economy, particularly Nigeria. The implications for Nigeria, a highly natural resource revenues dependent country, are very huge, especially with regard to energy security, citizens livelihood, job opportunities and economic development”.
Dr. Orji further added that “For us at NEITI, we have legitimate interest and duty to help our country develop comprehensive content to guide it’s rule of engagements required to maximize the opportunities in energy transition while minimizing its associated risks”.
The NEITI Executive Secretary disclosed that a national dialogue on Energy Transition will be held in Abuja in September this year to discuss the road map.
The Chairman of the NEITI Board, Mr. Olusegun Adekunle, in his remarks, reaffirmed the commitment of the Board to provide NEITI with the required policy direction that aids the development of the road map. He describes energy transition as the future of the industry. Mr. Adekunle also charged workshop’s participants to take advantage of the workshop to build their skills and improve their knowledge on energy transition.
Ms. Nafi Chinery, the West African Regional Manager of NRGI, underlined the need to include diversification of Nigeria’s economy as one of the priorities in the country’s energy transition response.
The NRGI Regional Manager further described NEITI as a reputable and efficient agency whose partnership with her organization will help shape energy transition programs in both Nigeria and the West African Sub region.
“Nigeria has a chance to minimize the economic shocks from the energy transition but can only do so if the government responds quickly by making evidence-based decisions and putting in place appropriate policy measures to mitigate the risks and enhance the benefits and diversification potentials provided energy transition”, the NRGI Western African boss added.
In his message, the Minister of Environment, Mr. Mohammed Abdullahi, represented by the Head Environmental Impact Assessment, Engr Celestine Gomwalk, disclosed that a National Council on Climate Change has been established by the Ministry to support the implementation of energy transition program. The Minister welcomed with delight the evolving partnership with NEITI in the areas of planning, capacity building, information and data sharing towards ensuring a national coordinated energy transition project.
The workshop witnessed presentations from leading energy experts drawn from within and outside the country.
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