Cleaner energy for Nigerians ― Osinbajo

Vice President Professor Yemi Osinbajo has explained why Nigeria is changing to cleaner energy. Nigeria’s plan is to reduce carbon emission by 20% by 2030 as FG commissions another university-based solar plant and this is in line with the globally endorsed Climate Change agenda and the Buhari administration’s effort to connect more communities to off-grid power and reliable energy sources, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN.

Professor Osinbajo stated this on Thursday in a message delivered virtually at the commissioning of a 1.12 MW Captive Solar Hybrid Power Plant at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.

The project executed under the Energizing Education Programme (EEP), an initiative of the Federal Government, is aimed at providing 37 Federal Universities and 7 Teaching Hospitals with captive energy solutions that will ensure sustainable and reliable power for students and faculty.

According to the Vice President, “renewables are the fastest-growing segment of energy today and will certainly be a key economic driver well into the future.

“Indeed, Nigeria intends to have 30 percent of its electricity supply from renewables by the year 2030. Our future workforce, therefore, needs to be ready for this energy transition. The training centers constitute a critical additional benefit of this project.”

Continuing, he noted that “besides, this program reaffirms the Federal Government’s commitment to global best practice as we transition to cleaner sources of energy in line with the Paris Agreement on Climate Change.

“These projects being implemented by the Rural Electrification Agency are strategic to fulfilling our commitments to the agreement as they strive to reduce Nigeria’s carbon footprint.

“The leveraging of renewable energy technology is in line with the Federal Government’s mandate and related activities. Nigeria’s plan to reduce carbon emission by 20 per cent unconditionally and 45 per cent with international support by 2030, aims to limit the damaging effect of climate change.”

Speaking on the benefits of the EEP, Professor Osinbajo said “already, 22,000 students and faculties across the country are connected to completed projects in Kano, Ebonyi, Benue and of course, now in Bauchi. But apart from providing a reliable source of captive power for these institutions, each institution will have a renewable energy workshop and a training centre to provide training for students on renewable energy.”