Poor power supply: Ex-lawmaker, Onuigbo highlights benefits of renewable energy

A two-time National Assembly member, Sam Onuigbo, has advocated for enhanced commitment to addressing the nation’s energy accessibility challenges by transitioning toward renewable energy sources, encompassing solar power, Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, and electric vehicles.

Onuigbo noted that while Nigeria has achieved substantial progress in energy transition, more intentional and focused efforts are required to advance energy transition initiatives and facilitate access to carbon market opportunities.

He stated that if subnational governments adopt the coordinated strategies employed by the Federal Government, Nigeria would establish itself as a prominent leader in environmental sustainability.

Onuigbo, who serves as the sponsor of Nigeria’s landmark climate change legislation, delivered these remarks in Abuja on Sunday, emphasizing that programs designed to increase solar energy uptake, reinforce climate governance frameworks, and unlock the environmental, economic, and social advantages of the clean energy transition warrant robust support.

He emphasized that climate legislation must be converted into concrete implementation, expediting Nigeria’s energy transition and facilitating progress toward net-zero emission targets.

Characterizing solar power as fundamental to this transition, he highlighted its capacity to broaden electricity availability to marginalized and unelectrified communities, catalyze green industrial development, generate employment opportunities, and diminish carbon emissions.

“The transition to clean energy should not be regarded solely as an environmental imperative, but equally as an economic prospect and an obligation to succeeding generations,” he stated.

“Solar energy constitutes a cornerstone of this transition. Its capacity to enhance energy access to underserved and unserved populations, propel green industrialization, generate employment, and lower carbon emissions renders it essential to achieving a sustainable future.”