NCCC advocates fuel as bridge gasoline for Africa

The Director-Basic of the Nationwide Council on Local weather Change, Majekodunmi Omotenioye, has stated Africa should undertake a practical power transition technique that utilises pure fuel as a bridge gasoline to drive industrialisation whereas aligning with world local weather commitments.

Omotenioye stated this in her keynote deal with on the just-concluded three-day Inexperienced Convention 2026 organised by Greenplinth Africa in Lagos.

The convention, themed ‘Decarbonising Africa: Pathway to Local weather Finance, Sustainable Development and Inexperienced Financial system’, introduced collectively policymakers, local weather specialists, state governments, and growth companions to deliberate on methods for balancing financial progress with environmental sustainability throughout the continent.

In response to an announcement on Sunday, Omotenioye famous that Africa faces a singular problem of pursuing fast industrial progress whereas concurrently decreasing carbon emissions — a transition that developed economies didn’t confront throughout their very own industrialisation.

“Africa stands at a pivotal second within the historical past of world growth. Ours is the youngest continent on earth, wealthy in sources, innovation, and human potential, but a whole lot of hundreds of thousands nonetheless stay with out dependable entry to fashionable power.

“The actual query earlier than us will not be whether or not Africa ought to decarbonise. That goal is already clear and broadly shared. The query is how Africa can obtain industrial progress, power safety, and financial prosperity whereas advancing the worldwide local weather agenda,” she stated.

In response to her, changing coal and heavy gasoline oil with pure fuel might cut back greenhouse fuel emissions by as a lot as 50 per cent, whereas additionally enhancing air high quality.

“With over 600 trillion cubic ft of confirmed fuel reserves, Nigeria has the sources to assist industrial progress whereas contributing to world local weather aims,” Omotenioye added.

The NCCC boss additionally disclosed that Nigeria just lately launched a nationwide framework aimed toward decarbonising the nation’s oil and fuel worth chain, masking upstream, midstream, and downstream operations.

Talking on the occasion, the Deputy Governor of Benue State, Sam Ode, stated sub-national governments should play a central function in Nigeria’s transition to a low-carbon economic system, noting that decarbonisation has turn out to be an pressing world precedence.

“The essence is to make sure that the poorest and most weak individuals in rural areas turn out to be the main beneficiaries of unpolluted power entry,” he stated, whereas calling on traders and growth companions to see Benue as “a frontier for inexperienced alternative.”

In the meantime, Niger State emerged because the second sub-national authorities, after Benue State, to signal a clear power settlement with Greenplinth Africa on the convention.

Talking on the event, the Commissioner for Setting and Local weather Change in Niger State, Abubakar Musa, alongside the Director-Basic of the Niger State Company for Inexperienced Initiatives, Daniel Galadima, reiterated the state’s dedication to environmental sustainability and local weather motion.

“This mission has are available in to unravel the problem of poverty, enhance income for households, and assist us deal with local weather challenges,” Musa stated.

Additionally talking, Muhammed Gudi, who represented the Nasarawa State Authorities, stated the state was able to assist the initiative by way of land provision and coverage backing.

“His Excellency is completely satisfied and thrilled to see that the state is absolutely engaged in decarbonisation initiatives. Nasarawa State could be very able to key into this programme as a result of it can deal with local weather points and create employment alternatives for our individuals,” he stated.

In recognition of its early dedication to the initiative, the Lagos State Authorities was additionally honoured by Greenplinth Africa as the primary sub-national authorities to signal a memorandum of understanding with the organisation.