The Federal Government has restated its commitment to the development of the renewable energy sector in Nigeria, stressing that Nigeria will continue exploring ways to deepen the development of the sector.
The Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Sen. Adeleke Mamora made this known during a three-day expanded stakeholders engagement and interactive consultation on the proposed 30mw (hybrid) pilot wind farm project in Jaredi, Sokoto State.
He recalled that the recently concluded COP27 in Egypt was to remind the world about the menace of climate change and the need to collaborate and collectively expand energy access, decarbonisation of the global energy system and transform the approach to powering the global economy.
According to Dr. Adeleke, the Federal Government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari has been working hard to provide the enabling environment for investment in the energy sector and renewable energy deployment will continue to be pivotal because it offers clean energy”.
To this end, he emphasised that the stakeholders’ engagement offers a unique opportunity to critical research and explore emerging technologies that will add value to the nation’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) stressing that the reduction in greenhouse gas emission and global warming will ultimately mitigate the impact of climate change.
The minister commended the government of the Sokoto State and media organisations for their unflinching support towards achieving the project.
Earlier in his remarks, the Sokoto State governor, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal who was represented by the secretary to the state government, Muhammad Mainasara Ahmad, commended the Federal Government for its commitment to ensuring that the project is sited in the state.
The governor further said that the state will collaborate with the security agencies to ensure that the project is secured to boost the power sector development and growth in the country.
Earlier, the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry Science, Technology and Innovation (FMSTI), Mrs Monilola Udoh said that the present administration is relentless towards achieving SDG 07 – which is vital to boosting access to energy, improving health, education, sanitation, life expectancy, create jobs, reduce poverty and hunger as well as tackle insecurity.
Udo further revealed that FMSTI in collaboration with other relevant stakeholders such as the Federal Ministry of Power, Nigeria Meteorological Agency, Sokoto Energy Research Centre, National Centre for Energy Research and Development, Lahmayer International GmbH had produced an onshore wind energy map for Nigeria.
A statement by the ministry’s deputy director of press, Atuora Obed, said Udoh further stated that the available data 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.
