Nigeria remains dumping ground for solar energy material – Expert

The Environmental Rights Action (ERA), an NGO, has expressed concern as Nigeria has remained a dumping ground for solar energy materials, thereby, causing environmental crises across the country.

The Executive Director of ERA/Africa Coalition for Sustainable Energy Access (ACSEA), Dr Godwin Ojo, said this at a Stakeholders Validation and Training Workshop on Sunday in Abuja.

The workshop which was focused on renewable energy system, was organised by Lift Humanity Foundation (LHF), an NGO, in collaboration with other stakeholders.

Ojo, who also expressed worries over high level of deteriorating state of technology in the country, said that access to the technology was very low and has become a challenge for Nigeria.

He said that releasing of emission from dirty oil, gas and other energy products was advancing climate change and global warming.

He added that the best way to tackle the issue was through a strong collaboration among national international communities.

According to him, Nigeria has access to solar energy from the sun, but cannot harness resources due to bad condition of the technologies in the country.

“The reason is that our indigenous technology is deteriorate the issue is about technology advancement, our technology is not function well.

“In industrialised countries, the technology is advanced and are working effectively because they are being maintained.

“While in Nigeria, it is still very low to access because they are very few, and most of them are in bad shape,” he said.

Ojo called on government at all levels, private and other relevant stakeholders to intensify effort to ensure a strong assessment of renewable energy governance in the country.

He said that the stakeholders were advocating for centered energy transition system, adding that everyone should be involve.

“We are asking for a different modern of energy system where you and I who are end users can benefit.

“Individuals, private sectors and government of all levels should be involve to ensure a diversify energy system, energy is in the hands of everyone,” he said.

The Executive Secretary of LHF, Mr Pius Oko, said that the workshop was a training for researchers especially Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).

Oko said that the training was focused on how data could be assessed and accessed, using more proffer methodology for the renewable energy governance in the country.

According to him, we want to find means of having an inclusive way of having a renewable energy policies in Nigeria and that is the essence of the workshop.

“We are bringing multi stakeholders together to validate this, already we have been on the process of providing a report since last year.

“The report was finalise this year, we feel that it is a process and the process is an inclusive one, thereby, making sure that everybody is a stakeholder in this system.

“That is the essence why we are bringing everyone together – the policy makers, the CSOs,and the media so that they will have an understanding of renewable energy in Nigeria.

“We have engage other relevant stakeholders for strong advocacy to ensure that the implementation of the energy renewable initiative is effective especially to rural communities and the states,” he said.

Mr Okon Ekpenyong, Director of Linkages, Research and Consultancy, Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), said that the initiative would promote energy sector in the country.

Ekpeyong said that the commission was strongly supporting the programme.

Mrs Jennifer Ekele, Technical Officer, represented Ekpenyong.

Also, Dr Robert Onyeneke, from Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ebonyi State, emphasised the need for effective training and retraining of stakeholders on renewable energy.

Onyeneke said that the training and capacity building programme would support in developing strong skills and provide knowledge in the sector.

 

By Vivian Emoni