Nigeria would explore new ways to increase her renewable energy development in the quest to overcome the energy crisis the country is currently facing, Dr.Adeleke Mamora, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation,has said
He spoke at the opening ceremony of a three-day expanded stakeholders engagement and interactive consultation on the proposed 30mw(hybrid) pilot wind farm project in Jaredi, Sokoto State,where he also assured that the country was committed to the development of renewable energy in the country.
A statement by Mr. Atuora Obed, Deputy Director, Press and Public Relations, in the Federal Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation, quoted the Minister as recalling that the recent COP27 in Egypt was to remind the world about the menace of climate change and the need to collaborate and collectively expand the energy access, decarbonization of the global energy system and transform the approach to powering the global economy.
The Minister said: “The Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, since inception in 2015, has been working very hard to provide the enabling environment for investment into the energy sector and renewable energy deployment, because it offers clean energy.”
Speaking on the stakeholders engagement, he explained that it offers a unique opportunity to critical research and explore emerging technologies that will add value to the Nation Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), adding that the reduction in greenhouse gas emission and global warming will ultimately mitigate the impact of climate change.
He lauded the state government and the media for their unflinching support towards achieving the project.
Speaking, the Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who was represented by Secretary to the Sokoto State Government, Muhammad Mainasara Ahmad, commended the Federal Government for its commitment in ensuring that the project is sited in the State.
He hinted that the state government would partner with the security agencies to ensure that the project is secure to boost the power sector development and growth in the country.
In her remarks,the Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry Science, Technology and Innovation (FMSTI) Mrs. Monilola Udoh said that the current administration was relentlessly working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal Number 07(SDGs), which is vital in boosting access to energy, improved healthcare, education, sanitation, life expectancy and poverty reduction.
Udoh said the FMSTI in collaboration with other critical stakeholders such as the Federal Ministry of Power, Nigeria Meteorological Agency, Sokoto Energy Research Center, National Center for Energy Research and Development, Lahmayer International GmbH had produced an Onshore Wind Energy Map for Nigeria.
She added that the available data has placed Jaredi in Shagari Local Government Area of Sokoto State, a potential site for the development of wind power for the generation of electricity, necessary to improve the efficiency and growth of the power sector in the country.
