The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is at the forefront of Nigeria’s efforts to implement renewable energy solutions. Dr. Sam Ogbuku, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NDDC, is spearheading the “Lighting Up the Niger Delta Project” intending to provide electricity to every community in the region. As part of this initiative, the commission is focused on promoting the use of clean energy to address global climate change challenges. Solar power is a well-established form of renewable energy that has been used to power various devices, homes, and offices. The NDDC plans to leverage the benefits of solar energy, particularly solar street lights, due to their high efficiency and quality. The adoption of solar power aligns with reducing carbon footprints, making it an appealing option for both government and private sector organizations.
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Nigeria, particularly the Niger Delta region, is experiencing the impacts of climate change, including rising temperatures, intense rainfall leading to flooding, rising sea levels, drought, desertification, and more frequent extreme weather events. To address these challenges, former President Muhammadu Buhari signed the country’s climate change bill into law on November 18, 2021. The law aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and includes a framework for integrating climate actions with national development priorities, as well as setting a net-zero target of 2050-2070. The NDDC is taking a leading role in addressing this global issue by launching a campaign to provide sustainable energy to the entire Niger Delta region.
Dr. Sam Ogbuku, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has reaffirmed the commission’s dedication to promoting clean energy as a pivotal solution to global climate change. Reflecting on the insights and gains from the recent COP 29 climate change conference held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Dr. Ogbuku highlighted the urgent need for a sustainable and permanent solution to the environmental challenges plaguing the Niger Delta region, primarily caused by extensive crude oil exploration and exploitation.
During a recent presentation at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, renewable energy experts from Asteven International Company discussed Renewable Energy and Carbon Credit. Dr. Ogbuku articulated the commission’s ambitious vision: “Our target is to ensure that every community in the Niger Delta region is powered by solar, which is a renewable and cheap form of energy.” This vision aims not only to illuminate the region but also to create solar-powered industrial clusters that enhance the agricultural value chain and foster regional economic development.
Under Dr. Ogbuku’s leadership, the NDDC has made significant strides towards this goal, including the installation of approximately 56,786 solar street lights across various communities within the NDDC mandate states. These investments in solar energy align seamlessly with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). By embracing solar power and advancing carbon credit initiatives, the NDDC is making substantial contributions towards these global objectives, promoting sustainable development and mitigating climate change.
Solar power, with its dual benefits of providing essential services and building carbon credits, stands as a testament to the NDDC’s commitment to innovative and environmentally friendly solutions. As the commission continues to expand its clean energy initiatives, it is poised to make a lasting positive impact on the Niger Delta region, driving progress towards a more sustainable and resilient future.
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Carbon credits represent the reduction or removal of greenhouse gas emissions and can be traded internationally. By implementing projects that reduce emissions or enhance carbon sinks, the NDDC earns carbon credits, which they can then sell in the international carbon market. This not only generates revenue for the Commission but also reduces its dependence on funding from the government and oil companies.
To further commit to clean energy, a renewable energy consultant advised the NDDC to develop a strategic plan to incorporate clean energy across its projects in various sectors including buildings, agriculture, transportation, energy, environment, health, and education. This is crucial because these sectors have significant renewable energy assets and carbon benefits with trapped values that the Commission should aim to recover.
During a recent interaction with NDDC officials, Dr. Sunny Akpoyibo, the President of the Council on Renewable Energy, noted that the Commission has executed many projects with substantial carbon values.
He mentioned that the NDDC has a worldwide reputation, and by implementing environmentally friendly projects, it can make a significant impact globally. This approach would allow the organization to make the most of the potential benefits currently being overlooked or underutilized in its projects. Prof Magnus Onuoba, the Executive Director of Asteven Group, a local renewable energy company, expressed that the Commission is in a good position to tap into the $2 billion carbon investment in the Niger Delta region. In order to accomplish this, he stated that the NDDC must establish a greenhouse gas baseline for the energy and agricultural sectors.
He emphasized that conducting a feasibility study in decarbonization and afforestation would uncover the potential achievements through a baseline study. Prof Onuoha assured that his consultancy firm would assess and reposition the existing renewable energy projects and programs to unlock their full potential. Additionally, they would put in place the carbon credit framework for the Commission. It is essential for the NDDC to establish a mechanism that will allow it to gain global recognition for leading the fight against climate change in the Niger Delta region.
