Nigeria’s Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Friday, November 11, 2023, inaugurated an ad-hoc committee to harmonize Nigeria’s agenda at the forthcoming COP28 Climate Change Conference in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
A statement issued by his spokesman, Stanley Nkwocha, explained that the formation of the committee is in line with the government’s determination to present a strong position at the event that will benefit the country.
Speaking during an interaction with stakeholders in his office, the Vice President tasked the committee to come up with a roadmap that will enable Nigeria to benefit maximally from its participation at the conference.
He said: “We need to be proactive and see to it that we go to the conference prepared and sure of what we want to get. It will not be a joke, we need to come back with some tangibles so we can tell the Nigerian people that these are the benefits we got from our participation at COP28.”
Responding to a presentation for Nigeria to sign on to the Battery Energy Storage Systems at the forthcoming COP28, the Vice President said the proposal was a commendable initiative, noting that it “offers green field opportunity for our nascent energy sector to adopt green, affordable and accessible energy for our people.”
“Our energy needs are huge but they also provide us with a vista of opportunities to transform the entire sector for the benefit of our economy and the wellbeing of the people,” he added.
Shettima said he looked forward to the technical assistance and funding opportunities, among others, that will come to Nigeria with the signing on to the Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) consortium.
The committee chaired by the Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Abbas Lawal has the Minister of Power, Dr Adebayo Adelabu as a member. Others include the Special Adviser to the President on Climate Change, the Special Adviser to the President on Power Infrastructure, and the Director General of the National Council on Climate Change.
Earlier, the representative of the Global Energy Alliance Partnership (GEAP), Mr Mohammed Wakeel said he was in the country to support government in the energy sector. He said the BESS Consortium will provide a technology that will enhance the quality and quantum of power available in the country.
According to him, with the signing of the MoU with the consortium, Nigeria will be able to collaborate with other institutions such as the GEAP, Africa Development Bank, and other stakeholders to transform the country’s energy sector.
By Dare Akogun
