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The Speaker of Ecowas Parliament has urged member states to leverage on the region’s huge energy potentials for industrialisation.
Dr. Sidie Tunis stated this in Abidjan, Ivory Coast at the start of a week long Delocalised meeting of the ECOWAS Parliament Joint Committees on Energy, Mines, Industry, Private Sector and Environment.
“I wish to observe with delight that our region has tremendous potential for all sources of energy.
As regards conventional energies, the terms of reference of our meeting indicates that our region accounts for about one third of verified reserves of oil and one third of natural gas reserves on the African continent.
We are not unaware that such fossil energies are the cause of the emissions of greenhouse gases.
As for renewable energies, the ECOWAS region has a wide range of very diverse energy resources, from biomass to solar and marine energy, including hydraulic, geothermal and wind energy, among others.
These renewable energies can contribute significantly to improving energy security for both households and companies in the region.”
“Recently, during the First Ordinary Session of 2021, the Community Parliament I issued a favourable opinion for the adoption by ECOWAS, of various regulations relating to the application of standards by Member States as part of the project for improving governance in the renewable energies and energy efficiency sector,” he said.
”It is often said that when things are rightly put in perspective, they are easier to understand.
So, in terms of energy efficiency, let us consider the situation of our farmers for example, who are making efforts to mechanise their farms, but are confronted with exorbitant costs of energy to run their means of production.
On, the situation of our young artisans, who cannot use their tools because of frequent power outages in their districts, thus stifling their creativity.
On the situation of school children in our countries, who cannot continue studying beyond school hours, due to lack of electricity. Or the actual numbers of scholars, inventors, geniuses, in short, sheer talents being lost by Africa as a result of lack of energy.
These examples that I have just given, unfortunately concern more than 60% of the population of our region, estimated at close to 400 million inhabitants.
Even in our major cities, industries lack reliable and affordable energy.
Dare we say bluntly that today energy security is a matter of survival for companies.
I mean a matter of survival, given the cost of energy and its accessibility.”
“In the ECOWAS region, the rate of access to electricity is one of the lowest in the world. This leads to growing energy demand, coupled with rapid population and urbanisation growth and economic development,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of the Community Parliament also expressed his displeasure over what he calls the continuous non- compliance to the rulings of the Community Court of Justice by the region’s Attorneys-General of member states.
According to him, ECOWAS cannot come up with such a Court only for member countries to disregard its rulings.
“Before I round up this brief address, permit me to use this medium to flag up an issue that has been of major concern within the Community.
Here, I wish to refer to the continuous non-compliance with the rulings of the Community Court of Justice by Member States and other major actors within the region.
Respect for the Rule of Law, of which total compliance with court judgements is an integral part, is a major symbol of democracy.
Member States to continue disrespecting its judgements with impunity. I believe we are a more serious people and can do much better than that,” he called on AGFs in the region to respect the Court. ”
He called on all Attorneys General in all Member States, to as a matter of grave concern, not only to our people, but to the International Community, urgently organise a special meeting to address the ugly trend.
“All Laws must be obeyed and all court rulings must be adhered to.
Failure to do so has the propensity to drift any society into anarchy.
Dr. Tunis said ECOWAS Parliament is gravely concern about this subject.
Lateefah Ibrahim
