Foundation seeks community input in energy transition decision-making

Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation has urged the government to include stakeholders in the plan for energy transition in Nigeria.

The foundation blamed the Energy Transition Plan (ETP) for failing to inculcate concerns and input from impacted communities, especially in Niger Delta before its implementation.

The Director, Partnership and Development, Yar’adua Foundation, Mr Amara Nwankpa, stated this in Uyo on Sunday during a one-day workshop on shaping an inclusive energy future in the Niger Delta.

He added that the global energy transition is underway, and the Niger Delta will be severely affected and it is not proper that their input was not considered.

Nwakpa said: “It is important that in planning for an energy transition, whether it is a global or national energy transition, the need and interest of the Niger Delta are considered.

“Niger Delta is an impacted community in the energy transition, so, the need and interest of the Niger Delta communities must be considered.

“The only way that this can happen is if there is an engagement with the Niger Delta communities.”

Nwankpa emphasised that considering the needs and interests of the Niger Delta communities is crucial.

He said that the current energy transition plan lacks sufficient consultation with impacted communities.

“We urge Energy Transition Planners to listen to the people of the Niger Delta and prioritise community concerns.

“Closing the affordability gap is essential to ensure access to modern energy,” he said.

Dr Nnimmo Bassey, Executive Director of Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF), also expressed concerns about Nigeria’s energy poverty.

He elicited that the nation is blessed with energy resources, yet energy poverty pervades.

Bassey, who iseEnvironmentalist, said that the Nigeria’s problem is not a lack of energy resources but production of the energy to meet the citizens’ needs.

The environmentalist who holds a national honour of the Order of the Federal Republic advocated for decentralised energy systems, managed and maintained by communities, to meet their needs.

The expert emphasised the need for a just energy transition, considering the inevitable shift to renewable energy.

“Government should support community initiatives and prioritise the plight of the people,” he said.

The Nigerian Energy Transition Plan aims to promote a fair, inclusive, and equitable energy transition, with gas as a transitionary fuel.

The environmental activist, however, stressed the importance of community engagement and consultation to ensure a successful transition.