The Nigerian government has reiterated its commitment to the development of Renewable Energy in the country.
Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Dr. Adeleke Olorunnimbe Mamora made this known at the opening ceremony of a 3-day expanded Stakeholders engagement and interactive consultation on the proposed 30mw (hybrid) pilot wind Farm project in Jaredi, Sokoto State, North West Nigeria.
In a statement signed by the Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations of the Ministry, Atuora Obed O. the Minister added that Nigeria will continue to explore new ways to increase her renewable energy development in the quest to overcome the energy crises bedeviling the nation.
Dr. Mamora recalled that the recently concluded COP27 in Egypt was to remind the World about the menace of Climate Change and the need to collaborate and collectively expand energy access, decarbonisation of the global energy system and transform the approach to powering the global economy.
“The Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, since inception in 2015 has been working very hard to provide the enabling environment for investment into the energy sector and renewable energy deployment will continue to be pivotal because it offers clean energy”.
The Minister emphasised that the stakeholders’ engagement, offers a unique opportunity to critical research and explore emerging technologies that will add value to the nation’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) stressing that the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and global warming will ultimately mitigate the impact of Climate Change.
Dr. Mamora further commended the government of Sokoto State and Media Organizations for their unflinching support towards achieving the project.
The Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who was represented by Secretary to the State Government, Muhammad Mainasara Ahmad, commended the Nigerian government for its commitment to ensuring that the project is cited in the State promising to collaborate with security agencies to ensure that the project is secured.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (FMSTI) Mrs. Monilola Udoh said that the present Administration is relentless, in working towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal No: 07(SDGs) which is vital in boosting access to energy, improve health, education, sanitation, life expectancy, create jobs, reduce poverty and hunger as well as tackle insecurity.
“FMSTI in collaboration with other relevant Stakeholders such as Federal Ministry of Power, Nigeria Meteorological Agency, Sokoto Energy Research Center, National Center for Energy Research and Development, Lahmayer International GmbH had produced an Onshore Wind Energy map for Nigeria,” she said.
The Permanent Secretary further stated that the available data have placed Jaredi in the Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State a potential site for the development of wind power for the generation of electricity, necessary to improve the efficiency and growth of the power sector in the country.
Dominica Nwabufo
