CSO’s urge Nigeria Government to involve the Niger delta in Energy transition

As Nigeria advances its National Energy Transition Plan, civil society organizations and stakeholders in the Niger Delta are urging the Federal Government to prioritize justice by addressing the needs of communities adversely affected by fossil fuel extraction. They emphasized the importance of making cleaner energy technologies, like solar power, affordable for rural residents and small business owners.

This was a key takeaway from the workshop titled “Shaping an Inclusive Energy Future in the Niger Delta,” organized by the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, the Africa Policy Research Institute, and the Health of Mother Earth Foundation in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Amara Nwankpa, the Yar’Adua Foundation’s Director of Partnership Development, highlighted the risk of neglecting the Niger Delta’s environmental issues during the energy transition. He stressed the need for better engagement with local communities to understand their concerns and demands.

Nnimmo Bassey, an environmental expert, pointed out the necessity of addressing illegal mining of minerals essential for renewable energy and called for government support to make clean energy more accessible and affordable, suggesting that solar installations remain costly without adequate backing.

Tjah Bolton-Akpan, Executive Director of Policy Alert, argued for the inclusion of marginalized groups, particularly indigenous people and women, in the energy transition framework. He called for the use of transition finance to alleviate the Niger Delta’s challenges and urged developed countries to fulfill their commitments under the Paris Agreement, including providing climate finance and supporting affected communities.