Nigeria To Partner China On Africa Solar Belt 

Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Action SPEC, and Coordinator of all Climate Related Matters in Nigeria, Ajuri Ngelale made the country’s position known during a bilateral meeting with the Chinese Ecology Minister, Mr. Zhao Yingmin, who represented China’s Special Envoy on Climate at the meeting.

In a brief statement made available to Journalists at the State House, Abuja, Ngelale said that Nigeria’s proposal on the Africa Solar Belt Programme was welcomed by the Chinese counterpart with expectations of further discussion on the initiative.

He added that part of the inclusive motive of the Nigerian government in developing a truly circular economy amid several efforts to improve on value chain localization across renewable energy technology manufacturing industries is to facilitate smooth energy transition on a mass scale for the Nigerian workers.

“I communicated Nigeria’s position relating to its development of a truly circular economy amid its new push for value chain localization across renewable energy technology manufacturing industries and the need for Nigerian workers to benefit from the energy transition on a mass scale. I further emphasized that China’s new Africa Solar Belt programme will be incomplete if it does not inculcate supply chain diversification into developing markets, especially Africa’s largest market. This point was well received by the Chinese side with further discussion expected in this direction in the time to come.

He also made known that Nigeria and the Chinese sides shared a common  view on new and clean energies with both nations agreed that clean energies must be sufficiently financed, developed, and operationalized before demand ecosystems occur.

“Later on Thursday, a congested schedule and upcoming return flight to Abuja forced me to depart from the team early during lunch to participate in an important bilateral meeting with China’s Ecology Minister, Mr. Zhao Yingmin, who represented my counterpart, China’s Special Envoy on Climate – who was out of the country on official duty – during which numerous important areas of mutual concern and cooperation in the sphere of climate action were broached.

Speaking on other areas of mutual concern and cooperation in the sphere of climate action, SPEC made known that the countries further exchanged views on strategies to deepening coordinated synergies  within multilateral fora in the areas of shared common perspectives.

“The two sides further exchanged views on how to deepen coordinated collaboration within multilateral fora in the areas where we share common perspectives and approaches with respect to the various ways in which climate change is impacting emerging markets in the global south.

Additionally, Ngelale discussed advancing technical cooperation in afforestation and counter-desertification with the Chinese Ecology Minister, he said the two countries have agreed to jointly empower Nigerian populations in the Lake Chad region and other parts of the country on sustainable economic opportunity in the process of building a resilient climate actions.

“We also agreed to advance technical cooperation in afforestation and counter-desertification efforts that seek to empower vulnerable Nigerian populations in the Lake Chad region and in different parts of the country to find sustainable economic opportunity in the process of building our nation’s climate resiliency.

SPEC added that Nigeria’s active carbon sink development is part of the recent gains for the people and the environment.