By Smith Nwokocha

DAILOGUE ON ENERGY TRANSITION PLAN (ETP) 22^ND APRIL 2024 HELD AT ALGATE HOTEL GRA, PORT HARCOURT, NIGERIA.

The dialogue was moderated by Smith Nwokocha (Coordinator, Quest For Growth and Development Foundation).

In a remark, Friday Nbani of Lekeh Foundation, said the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan document was launched in 2021 at Glasgow COP26 and Nigeria endorsed the document and by 2060 Nigeria will phase out fossil fuels to Renewable Energy. The implication of the document in the Niger Delta people and how it is in line with NDC in achieving net-zero 2060. Nigeria is taking step by step to achieve or move away from dirty energy to clean energy.

Dr. Gberemene Kpae, a Lecturer at the University of Port Harcourt, did a presentation on the “Overview of the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan”. He looked at the introduction, objectives of the Energy Transition plan, and how realistic the policies will be. What informed the Nigerian Government on taking such action? Every country will go back home and design how to phase out fossil fuels. Nigerian Former Vice President Yemi Osinbajo oversaw the Energy Transition Plan for Nigeria, and he emphasized that, it’s the Nigerian Government’s Commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emission.  The following ways according to Dr. G. Kpae are how to realize Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan: 1) ETP shall identify and support low-carbon energy works for low-income Nigerians particularly in those rural and semi-urban centres. 2) Innovation in natural gas infrastructure development. 3) Modernize Biomass Utilization. 4) Improve Energy Efficiency in Small and Medium Businesses (SMEs). 5) Harmonize Climate Change Policies. He went further to highlight some of the Challenges of Implementing the Nigerian National Energy Transition Plan, which includes (a) Financing (b) Policy and regulation (c) Human Capital (d) Public Awareness and Acceptance (e) Lack of Purchasing Power. In conclusion, he re-emphasized that, Climate Change is something we are all experiencing, it is paramount to phase out fossil fuels and the Government has been able to come out with a policy that enables this to happen, the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan.

The Facilitator, Dr Grace Alawa of Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, expatiated on the “Implications of Nigeria Energy Transition Plan in the Niger Delta”. She said the ETP came out in 2022 and before it came out, we already had the NDC that addresses issues on Climate Change. This is an Academic Session, and she emphasized participants should have a copy of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). She said, the Niger Deltans are the ones on the front burner of Fossil fuel extraction and feel the impact the most. In her words, “to ensure that the energy transition plan aligns with the NDC”, each of us are stakeholder in achieving reduced emissions. She highlighted the following as the implications of ETP in the Niger Delta: (a) Our livelihood is tied to the petrol/oil in our lands, yet the common people are suffering and poor. (b) Moving to Renewable Energy sources, can the average person achieve it? Niger Delta is so blessed with natural resources. Oil has been drilled since the 50s, how many persons have benefited from it? The impact on the livelihood and jobs of the Niger Deltans is clear. What is the fate of the common persons in the Niger Delta? Potential Implications: are 1). Joblessness in the region 2) More concerns on the environment. 3) Energy Access/Affordability. 4) Community Participation/Involvement. Recommendation: Conducting Social and Thorough Impact Assessment. Also, Engage in Inclusive Community Development.

The outcome of the Interactive Session moderated by Stella Amanie of Society For Women and Youth Affairs is as follows: States should domesticate the NDCs and ETP as well. Countries like Nigeria that depends on petrol, it might be difficult for the political class to allow the actualization of the ETP. The ETP should include manpower skills and support. In recent times, there is a transition to Artificial intelligence (A.I) and the future is unpredictable, a project timeline should be brought forth. Also, Accountability of funding/funds received should be a priority. The Nigerian government can also start by ensuring that emission is reduced to at least 40%, it will be a good start. Harmonization of policies (Government Policies) is so essential around the Energy Transition plan because there are too many policies, and these policies can be put together on a single document as a pathway to achieving the ETP. Let’s Advocate that the Federal government should domesticate the ETP to States that know the roles of the Communities and every actor will key in. An important action to take, is for CSOs to possibly create an ETP Initiative or Forum, do a lot of Advocacy around the ETP Initiative and begin to engage the Government at different levels, the MDAs and Energy Sector as well. The ETP document is actualize, though the ETP is in an Exclusive List of the Federal Government and the Academics need to be engaged in this document. There is a need for Regional Conference in the Niger Delta, where we have in attendance, the organized Private Sector (because they will invest in the Energy Sector), the Academia (They will do the research) and the Civil Societies (They will enable the Advocacy part) and the Government as well, because they will enact the policies. We need to have an expanded focus. Do more stakeholder engagement, for more aggressive awareness of the Energy Transition Plan. The ETP plan should be segmented from short-term to medium-term and long-term, and this segmentation should have targets too. Government willingness in commitment to implement a deadline for Gas flaring, for instance, has been moved severally and the IOCs find it easy to default and pay for the penalties because they are not heavy. Finally, advocating for strong legislation.

 

The Organizing Partners are Global Initiative For Food Security and Ecosystem Preservation (GIFSEP), Vote4Climate, Lekeh Foundation, Society For Women and Youth Affairs and Quest For Growth and Development Foundation.

Sponsored by 350.Org Africa (AfrikaVuka).