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President Muhammadu Buhari has been called upon to migrate the nation’s economy from oil and gas dependence to a renewable energy such as solar, wind and hydros.
Dr. Godwin Uyi Ojo executive Director, Environmental Rights Action, ERA, made the call in Benin on Wednesday, August 12, at the 3rd edition of Youth Environmental Camp Meeting with the theme: ‘from Extraction to Education’.
Dr. Ojo noted that it’s high time Nigerian government leave the oil sector and make a commitment towards ending fuel dependence by divesting investments from oil and gas to research and development of embracing renewable energy sector, just as he added that a post petroleum economy is long overdue.
”We encourage the Nigeria government to take more ambitious step towards moving from fossil fuel such as oil, gas, and coal to a renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and mini hydros. The government of President Muhammadu Buhari should embrace the agenda to leave the oil in the soil, make commitment and set an agenda towards end to fossil fuel dependence by divesting investments from oil and gas to research development of the energy sector. A post petroleum economy is long overdue for Nigeria,” he said.
Dr. Ojo who lauded the nation’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions released into the atmosphere unconditionally by 20% and conditionally by 45%, said despite the commitment there is no clear blueprint to achieve this.
Quoting UNEP report of 2011, the Executive Director lamented the severe impact of oil extraction on the environment and that this is emblematic of the Niger Delta region, just as he added that the result of the severe impact is livelihood destruction, violent resource conflict, human rights violations, ill-health and untimely death.
”The externalising of production costs and the unmitigated environmental and social consequences of extraction makes extraction of oil unviable as the entire Niger Delta pollution shows. Although Nigeria’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions reeased into the atmosphere unconditionally by 20% and conditionally by 45% is laudable, there is no clear blueprint on ground.
He continues, ”Still, there is high rate of unemployment and poverty with a widening gap between the rich and poor. Electricity production and supply and supply averag hover around 4,000 megawatts and demands simply outstrip supply. The rate of deforestation and fuelwood consumption is one of the highest in the world accounting for about 500,000 hectares annually.
“There is environmental degradation and social discllocation from oil and gas extraction with frequent oil spills, persistent gas flaring and severe desertification in northern Nigeria that has destroyed rural livelihoods. According to the UNEP report 2011on the assessment of the Shell polluted Ogoniland, the impact of oil extraction on the environment is severe and the area is an ecological disaster zone, and this is emblematic of the entire Niger Delta. The result is livelihood destruction, violent resource conflicts, human rights violations, ill-health and untimely death he added.
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