FG targets 30% electricity generation from renewable energy

In line with the Vision 20:20-20, the Federal Government, on Wednesday, said it targets about 30 per cent generation of electricity from renewable energy.

This came just as the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury, threw her weight behind Nigeria’s power reform, with a view to ascertaining areas of possible collaboration between her country and Nigeria in the area of power supply.    

Minister of State for Power, Wakil Muhammed, in a discussion with the ambassador in his office, in Abuja, stated that a digital approach, through the use of censors and camera detectors was saying this came to the fore as all efforts by   the Federal Government to improve power supply in the country had since been scuttled by persistent acts of vandalism.

According to him, Nigeria’s interest in the development of renewable energy was informed by the dire need of President Goodluck Jonathan’s-led administration to address the lingering problem of energy mix.

He observed that Nigeria is blessed with abundant resources in the renewable-small and medium hydros, biomass, solar and wind, expressing the hope that the development of renewable energy sources is fast tracked.

Also, he noted the need to ensure that these sources served 70 per cent of Nigerians residing in the rural areas but are far flung away from the national grid, and may not be connected soon because of insufficient resources.

Wakil assured the would-be investors from Finland that renewable energy is the way to go as it would be embraced by all in meeting the nation’s energy needs.

Earlier, the ambassador, who expressed satisfaction with the ongoing transformation in the sector, disclosed her readiness to woo big conglomerates from Finland, to join in the present administration’s goal of more access to power for both rural and urban dwellers.

She observed that the prevailing security challenges being faced in the North East could adversely affect the investors’ confidence as well as their willingness to invest in Nigeria.

While drawing analogy against the recent dogged fight against the Ebola Virus scourge, the envoy encouraged Nigerians to use the same zeal in the fight against pipeline vandalism which had become a menace ,hence ,the inability of the country to push-up power generation.

Using the axiom, “where there is a way, there is a will”, she urged Nigerians to tackle her problems frontally rather than blaming others.