- Says over 56 BN green bond to strengthen gov sectors
- Private sector to drive programmes
From Idu Jude, Abuja
The Federal Government of Nigeria, have said that proper implementation of the energy transition plan, in line with the Paris climate change agreement, is to take over 100 million people out of poverty through the creation of employment in renewable energy by the year 2030.
The Minister of State for Environment Dr Iziak Kunke Salako, made this known Tuesday while playing host to the 2023 edition of Africa Climate Forum 2023 edition held in Abuja.
The Minister also revealed that the FG, in order to play a critical role as a signatory to the Paris Agreement of 2017, has mapped out over 56 BN naira to be shared among 23 Federal projects dealing with green projects across all economic sectors.
The Minister, who was represented during the occasion by the Dir. Renewable energy in the Ministry of Environment, Dr Iniobong Abiola-Awe, posited that the 2023 edition of the African Climate Forum was apt and evidence that Nigeria is in dire need and on the right path to achieving the goal.
“This lofty idea can only be achieved, if all sectors both formal and informal, pull their resources together to ensure that funding of the project does not deny Africa its potential to achieve renewable energy, by 2030. And with the Federal Government bond, the country is ready to achieve the height”
Also speaking, the Chairman Senate Committee on Climate Change, Sen Sariake Dickson, said that the National Assembly and indeed his committee are waiting to receive resolutions of the two-day event as that would guide the committee on legislative duties in providing enabling legal framework to ensure sectorial participation in green energy Transition plan of the Federal Government.
According to the former Governor of Bayelsa State, the project has become pertinent as the whole world, is faced with global climate change problems. “We all are aware that we are faced with global change. The fact that Africa’s over-dependent on foci fuel has contributed to global warming but we would continue by playing a huge role to ensure that Africa is not left out of the global project. Needless to say we are there yet, with only 2 per cent global funding coming to Africa as against Africa’s 40 per cent contribution to energy potentials”.
He said, the country, should hinge on the use of public-private partnership PPP, to achieve the goal and also to ensure that the country key into what other nations are doing presently, to educate or enlighten the people about the program.
While admonishing on informal sector participation, to ensure synergy with the Federal Government also harps on timely legislation, by the 10th Assembly for a legal framework backing up the project in Nigeria.
” We assure you of any legislative requirements to ensure funding from the Federal Government. We would like to see that it is achieved. It is necessary to note that we can’t make headway unless we create funding and also make others to bring funds to support climate change project in Nigeria.
Speaking earlier, while welcoming guests for the two day forum, the Director General, global center for law, Business and Economy and convener of the forum, Dr. George Nwangwu, stated that achieving the energy Transition plan in Nigeria,that the Kenyan agreement, must be adopted in Nigeria.
According to him, the aim of this edition of Africa Climate Forum, is to debate some of the challenges affecting energy Transition across the continent and to collaboratively devise solutions.
” We are mindful of the recent Africa Climate summit held in Nairobi Kenya, where some very clear resolutions were adopted. However, we believe that the energy Transition in Africa is going to be driven by the private sector and that the resolutions reached in the Nairobi summit are also going to be implemented by the private sector in Africa. Armed with these conviction, we have decided to bring African governments and the region’s private sector under one umbrella to deliberate on some of the issues around energy transition in the continent” he said.