The Nigerian Government, through the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), has inaugurated an inter-agency committee to enhance industrial energy efficiency policies and regulations in the country.
The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), and other key stakeholders to drive sustainable energy practices within the industrial sector.
ECN Advances Industrial Energy Efficiency with High-Level Technical Working Group Meeting focused on strengthening policies and regulatory frameworks to drive the adoption of UNIDO’s Energy Management Systems Standards across industries. pic.twitter.com/CHFI5zp4P5
— Energy Commission of Nigeria (@Energygovng) January 31, 2025
The project, titled “Improving Nigeria’s Industrial Energy Performance and Resource Efficient Cleaner Production through Programmatic Approaches and the Promotion of Innovation in Clean Technology Solutions,” was launched in Abuja, the nation’s capital, to enhance industrial environmental energy performance in Nigeria.
The director of ECN, Dr Mustapha Abdullahi, revealed in his opening remarks that the project also aims to speed up the adoption of industrial energy efficiency and improve enterprise environmental performance through resource efficiency and cleaner production best practices in Nigeria.
He explained that industrial energy efficiency, which is the focus of the project, is multi-dimensional in nature, cutting across various sectors of the economy.
Abdullahi also noted that the committee’s inauguration marks a crucial step toward achieving Nigeria’s national development priorities and promoting sustainable industrial growth.
“The committee will provide strategic direction, facilitate inter-agency collaboration, ensure access to relevant information and offer technical guidance on project outputs and expected outcomes,“ he stressed.
Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), in partnership with @unido, the Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv.), and other key stakeholders, convened the inaugural meeting of the Inter-Agency Committee on Industrial Energy Efficiency Policies and Regulations (IC-IEEPR). pic.twitter.com/golnCFwW20
— NACCIMA (@NACCIMA30) February 1, 2025
Abdullahi emphasised that the interagency committee is tasked with the following responsibilities:
– Providing strategic guidance to the IEE technical working group/project team to review past work and ensure that the project’s final outputs align with its objectives, outcomes and national development priorities.
According to him, an appropriate policy and legislative framework is essential for promoting national energy efficiency and conservation best practices, particularly in sectors where such practices are still emerging.
He emphasised that the project’s implementation demands an inclusive approach, involving various stakeholders to ensure policy synergy and consistency.
On his part, the National Programme Coordinator for Environment and Energy at UNIDO, Oluyomi Banjo, stressed that Nigeria is making a significant leap in industrial energy efficiency.
He further expressed excitement about the collaboration between the government, ministries, departments, and agencies to drive this initiative, particularly in light of rising global energy costs, noting that for Nigeria to remain competitive, it must prioritise efficiency, innovation, and self-sufficiency.
Highlighting the importance of the project, Banjo said that the project, supported by the Global Environment Facility, is designed to promote industrial energy efficiency in 13 carefully selected industrial cities across Nigeria.
“The Energy Commission of Nigeria is spearheading the project, with critical support from the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria.“
According to him, the initiative will not only help Nigeria fulfil its international commitments but also foster sustainable industrialisation and economic growth.
He reaffirmed UNIDO’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s industrialisation efforts, emphasising that a coordinated approach will enable the country to maximise the project’s impact and achieve its energy efficiency goals.
The project consultant, Okon Ekpenyong, stated in his overview of the project that one of its expected outcomes is to improve the government’s knowledge base, enabling it to strengthen national policies and regulatory frameworks for enhanced industrial energy efficiency.
He explained that the project seeks to provide stakeholders with a well-informed knowledge base to guide IEE development, adding that the project also aims to strengthen the policy framework for resource efficiency.
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