The case for renewable energy is compelling. It holds substantial implications for national policy agenda.”
By Deborah Hassan
365Daily — Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has emphasized the need for Nigeria to adopt renewable energy as a critical part of its national policy and economic diversification agenda.
Speaking at the opening of the First Legislative Conference and Expo on Renewable Energy in Lagos, organized by the House Committee on Renewable Energy and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Speaker said the transition to renewable energy is no longer optional for Nigeria.
“The case for renewable energy is compelling. It holds substantial implications for national policy agenda,” Abbas said, noting that countries embracing renewable energy have improved energy access, reduced vulnerability to global fuel price shocks, and advanced in the low-carbon economy.
He described renewable energy as a cornerstone of global development policy, citing recent global trends such as the addition of 585 gigawatts of renewable energy in 2024—over 92 percent of new power capacity worldwide—and a $1.7 trillion investment in clean energy in 2023.
The Speaker acknowledged that Nigeria’s heavy reliance on fossil fuel exports presents both challenges and opportunities in a shifting global energy landscape. He stressed the need for legislative support to drive investment and policy reform in the renewable energy sector.
Abbas pointed to legislative efforts already underway, including recent tax reforms that remove VAT on renewable energy and compressed natural gas. He also cited provisions in the 10th House of Representatives’ Legislative Agenda, including incentives to attract private investment and support the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy of 2015.
He praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for key policy actions such as the Electricity Act of 2023, which devolves electricity sector oversight to state governments. He also highlighted a $1 billion financing initiative approved in December 2024 to expand solar access in rural communities, which has resulted in 124 mini-grids and over 25,000 solar home systems serving more than 200,000 Nigerians.
Chairman of the House Committee on Renewable Energy, Hon. Victor Afam Ogene, said renewable energy is gaining ground as a viable solution to Nigeria’s power challenges. He called for a clear strategy to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuels while addressing its energy deficit.
UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Elsie Attafuah, described energy as central to Nigeria’s security and economic future, saying it is essential for industrial transformation and diversification. She reiterated that Nigeria has immense potential to lead in the global energy transition.
The event was attended by representatives of governors from Abia, Enugu, and Osun states, and the First Deputy Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, Hon. Bernard Ahiafor, among other dignitaries.