Nigeria tasked on increased public energy supply

Nigeria tasked on increased public energy supply

The United Nations Development Programmes (UNDP) has called on Nigeria to increase its public energy supply.

The UN Resident Representative, Mr Dooudu Toure, said this on Thursday in Abuja at the signing of MOU between the UNDP and Bank of Industry (BOI) on Access to Renewable Energy in Nigeria.

Toure noted that an increase in the public energy supply would enable Nigeria realise its long term targets of increasing operational electricity generation from 3,500 to 190,000 megawatts by 2020.

Alternative source of energy

Toure said that the world today was focusing on alternative source of energy production to drive their economies.

He said new approaches such as the renewable energy options both on and off-the- grid arrangements would be required as one of the options.

Toure regretted that in spite of the vast energy potential in the country; it still relied heavily on backup generators with high environmental and economic cost to operate.

He said there was need for alternative source of energy supply to increase savings and ensure a cleaner environment.

Collaborations

“UNDP will continue to support and explore possible ways of collaborating with relevant institutions to promote supplies of energy through alternative and renewable sources,” Toure said.

The resident representative said the initiative would promote the creation of additional jobs, improve income for women and youths and strengthen MSMEs activities.

He commended BOI for developing and facilitating the renewable energy access for productive use in Nigeria.

Toure noted that the bank’s partnership with the UNDP to bring together a high level coalition of key energy, power and finance professionals remained one of the best ways to stimulate active participation that would deliver sustainable energy for the future.

NAN/Williams