The Africa Coalition for Sustainable Energy Access (ACSEA) in conjunction with the Pan African Climate Justice Alliance has launched the Nigeria platform for a people-centered energy transition project in Africa.
According to the national coordinator of ACSEA for Nigeria, Godwin Uyi-Ojo, the project, which will last for three years, is being implemented in four other countries including Kenya, Botswana, Cameroon and Morocco.
Uyi-Ojo who lamented civil society and non-state actors’ low participation in the decision making process on renewable energy transition said that the ACSEA’s aim is to ensure that Just Energy Transition occurs within improved energy access.
“However, there is low participation in the decision-making process on renewable energy initiatives. Therefore, the prime focus of the project is the promotion of renewable energy access in Nigeria. In general, clean energy access is limited due to energy poverty,” Uyi-Ojo said.
The national coordinator further said that energy poverty could be tackled and solved only through decentralized energy systems. He therefore called for continuous capacity training for local manufacturing of renewable energy gadgets.
Similarly, the programmes director of ACSEA, Mr. Eugene Nforngwa, stated that the project would strengthen civil society’s role in promoting and implementing sustainable energy transition initiatives and influence policy development in the five countries.
The director also noted that Africa had the lowest energy access rate globally, pointing out that energy access is a policy priority for many governments and development actors.
According to him, renewable energy remains the best chance to fill such a gap while minimizing potential emissions from the sector, adding that current initiatives are uncoordinated and lack broad-based participation.
“A strong civil society movement is crucial in minimizing risks; increasing access for the poor and securing emission reductions is critical. Renewable energy should be at the centre of any efforts to make energy accessible. Africa is not fully exploring other options. Only Kenya and South Africa are making efforts,” Mr. Nforngwa said.
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