By Juliet Ukanwosu
The Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI) has launched a Guidebook on Nigeria’s energy transition as part of its commitment to support the country with informed and inclusive decision making in its transition journey.
The Guidebook was formally unveiled and presented to stakeholders on day-3, of the three-day workshop on ‘Methane Emissions Reduction in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Sector’ organized for media and civil society organisations in partnership with the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID), in Abuja.
The Guidebook which was co-authored by Tengi Goerge-Ikoli, Senior Officer NRGI, Nigeria Program and Nafi Chinery, Africa Director, NRGI, accesses the framework that the Nigerian government has designed to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy technologies.
Speaking on the methodology, George-Ikoli, explained that the Guidebook was developed by a combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches. These she said, include stakeholder engagements, policy dialogues, national and community dialogues, as well as literature review of legal, regulatory policy and institutional frameworks on Nigeria’s energy transition.
“It is informed by engagements with state and non-state actors, including representative of government, private sector, communities, youths and women groups; and by their views of the strength and weaknesses of Nigeria’s energy transition plans,” she said.
She explained that the Guidebook can enhance stakeholder knowledge of Nigeria’s energy transition process and government action to accelerate the transition.
“The insight provided in the Guidebook may also inspire and influence regional conversation across the African continent creating a collective demand for a people-centered and just energy transition in multiple countries,” the NRGI stated.
Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji and Nafi Chinery at the event in Abuja
The content of the Guidebook include background to Nigeria’s energy transition; Assessing Nigeria’s preparedness to transition; basic tools to consider in designing a sustainable energy transition process; and recommended roles of different actors in ensuring successful implementation of the energy transition in Nigeria.
Speaking at the unveiling, Executive Secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Dr. Orji Ogbonnaya Orji, who formally launched the Guidebook, stated that Nigeria needs to position it self at the centre of global debate with capacity, skills and knowledge to take full advantage of the opportunities that lie in the energy transition journey while exploring wider global partnerships to mitigate the risks through innovative and courageous reforms towards economic diversification.
While commending NRGI for developing the Guidebook, Dr. Orji said “For now, developing nations require enough information and data on what the future holds for them to make an informed decision.”
Sharing background on how the Guidebook was conceived, NRGI Africa Director, Nafi Chinery, said the NRGI started looking into issues around energy transition and realized that there was need to address our huge developmental needs.
“It is also critical to pay attention to how we do this, especially for countries like Nigeria which depends on 70-80% fossil fuel revenue. There would be dire consequences if we do not have a plan to take into consideration the impact on communities, government revenue, access to electricity and clean cooking,” Chinery said.
She added that there are other emerging issues, especially with government focus on gas as transition fuel, adding that this is why just transition has become pivotal.
The NRGI further acknowledged the support and contributions from partners such as NEITI, Spaces for Change, AfriTAL, BudgIt, CJID, CISLAC, SDN, Policy Alert, Extractive360, NEXTIER, Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, as well as government agencies towards the development of the Guidebook.