The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), says it will soon unveil a roadmap on Nigeria’s engagements in the energy transition program.
The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, announced this in Abuja at a workshop held by NEITI in collaboration with the United States-based, Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), according to a statement yesterday.
Orji explained that the roadmap 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.
He also disclosed that the workshop was organized to seek the views and advice 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 aimed at developing the needed road map.
Orji was quoted: “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.”
He added that “For us at NEITI, we have legitimate interest and duty to help our country develop comprehensive content to guide its rule of engagements required to maximize the opportunities in energy transition while minimizing its associated risks.”
The NEITI scribe disclosed that a national dialogue on Energy Transition will be held in Abuja in September this year, to discuss the roadmap.
The Chairman, NEITI Board, Olusegun Adekunle, in his remarks, reaffirmed the commitment of the Board to provide the agency with the required policy direction that aids the development of the road map.
Describing energy transition as the future of the industry, Adekunle also charged the participants to take advantage of the workshop to build their skills and improve their knowledge on energy transition.
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.
Economic diversification
West African Regional Manager, NRGI, Ms. Nafi Chinery, underscored the need to include diversification of Nigeria’s economy as one of the priorities in Nigeria’s energy transition response.
Chinery 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 potential provided energy transition,” she added.
In his message, the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, represented by the Head Environmental Impact Assessment, Celestine Gomwalk, disclosed that a National Council on Climate Change has been established by the Ministry to support the implementation of the energy transition program.
The Minister lauded 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 Nigeria.
