FG, UNIDO Explore Investment To Address Energy Supply Gap

The Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation has sought stakeholders’ synergy to address the shortfalls in energy supply by accelerating investment in the hydropower sub-sector.

This among others was part of the discussions at a capacity building workshop on Accelerating Small Hydro Power Investment in Nigeria in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).

At the inauguration of the technical committee for renewable energy incentives in Abuja yesterday, minister of science, technology and innovation, Senator Adeleke Mamora, said renewable energy resources, small hydropower and biomass have greater potential towards providing access to electricity as well as addressing climate change.

He said an active collaboration between policymakers, the academia, public financiers and private sector actors to effectively enhance investment in renewables specifically, small hydropower in Nigeria is a necessity to successfully attain desired result.

The committee which was inaugurated by the minister of state for industry, trade and investment, Ambassador Maryam Yalwaji Katagum, was aimed at reviewing the existing incentives for renewable energy development in Nigeria, to identify obstacles to its implementation and recommend objective incentives and effective mode of implementation.

According to the director-general, Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Professor Eli Jidere Bala, the committee would gather the required incentives from the developers, the private sector, what they need and also the reaction of the government and put them together to become implementable.

In his remarks, UNIDO regional director, Nigeria and ECOWAS, Jean Bakole who was represented by Dr Osuji Otu said that despite anomalous energy potential, access to electricity in Nigeria remains a challenge that needs to be addressed to upscale investment.