As part of the inter-agency and inter-sectorial engagements of the Rural Electrification Agency of Nigeria – REA at the 26th Conference of Parties (COP), the MD/CEO of the Agency, Engr. Ahmad Salihijo Ahmad joined the Minister of State for Environment, Sharon O Ikeazor, the CEO of Sustainable Energy for All, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Sustainable Energy for All, and Co-Chair of UN-Energy Damilola Ogunbiyi as well as other key stakeholders in the sector for a high-level session on Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan on the 6th of November, 2021.
McKinsey had supported Nigeria in the development of an Energy Transition Plan to define a pathway to Net Zero, with a goal of lifting 100 million people out of poverty and driving economic growth; bringing modern energy services to the full population and managing the long term job loss in the oil sector that will result from global decarbonization.
The unveiling of this Plan happened just days after His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari made strong remarks at the opening Plenary of the COP26 Climate Change Summit in Glasgow, Scotland.
The President, while reaffirming his administration’s commitments to clean energy transition noted that funding will continue to play a critical role as far as carbon emission reduction is concerned. He also added that that “the net-zero ambition can lead to economic transformation across all sectors. It is a good ambition, but it requires critical infrastructure in place, including renewable energy”.
While piggy-backing on the President’s earlier submissions, the panelist session and presentation of the Energy Transition Plan, as hosted by Sustainable Energy for All at the SDG7 Pavilion enabled critical stakeholders to share feedback on the plan, vis a vis the nation’s commitments and the investments needed for the achievement of set objectives.
Commending the Nigerian government for the continued support and efforts towards ensuring a smooth energy transition, the MD/CEO of REA explained that the socio-economic impact of the decisions we make and the efforts we put in at all levels will help to change the future of energy use in Nigeria. He further commended the leadership of SEforAll as well as the Mckinsey for supporting the Nigerian government, while helping to define a pathway to net zero.