New National Energy Policy, Plan ‘II address Nigeria’s energy challenges – Commission

The Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) says the newly gazetted National Energy Policy and National Energy Master Plan will address energy challenges and guarantee clean, affordable, and sustainable energy in the country.

The commission made the assertion in a statement in Abuja on Friday by its Director of Media and Public Affairs, Abdulazeez Elamah.

Elamah said that the government’s decision to gazette the documents was to establish a path to sustainable energy development.

“For the first time in the history of Nigeria, a national energy policy and national energy master plan have been gazetted by the Federal Government.

“The Policy Gazette No. 59, Vol. III, Lagos, April 4, 2024, and the Master Plan No. 63, Vol. III, Lagos, April 5, 2024, show the official stance and direction of the government on energy matters.

“In line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, the government is determined to address the lingering problems in the energy sector to guarantee clean, affordable, and sustainable energy in the country,’’ he said.

Elamah noted that the documents would pave the way for the commission to execute its mandate.

“This is to coordinate policy implementation and monitor compliance by ministries, departments, and agencies of government, as well as private sector involvement.

“With the release of these gazettes, President Tinubu has emboldened the commission, as it has never been done by any government since its establishment,’’ he said.

He said that the nation’s energy sector would be better informed, managed, and researched, and the sub-sectorial policies would be well focused and driven through a coordinated compass for the overall good of the nation.

The commission’s spokesman recalled that the first National Energy Policy was midwifed by the commission and approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in 2003.

He added that the plan was launched by President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2005 and was later reviewed in 2013, 2018, and 2021.

“None of these reviews were gazetted until the regime of President Tinubu, and this was the climax of the public presentation of the two gazettes,” he said.

“With this milestone, the nation is set to navigate the troubled waters of the energy sector and the redemption of the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr. President,” he said.

Supreme News reports that on May 8, the commission unveiled the gazetted documents.