Reps to investigate renewable energy investments performance

The House of Representatives says it plans to conduct a thorough investigation on the underperformance of investments in renewable energy.

Rep. Afam Ogene, Chairman House Committee on Renewable Energy, said this in Abuja on Thursday at the workshop on aligning strategies across the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan’s five key sectors with net zero commitments.

The workshop is with the theme, ’’Aligning Energy Transition Programme (ETP) Sector Strategies with Net Zero Commitments’’ organised by the Renewable Energy Association of Nigeria (REAN).

Ogene said that the House had mandated the committee on renewable energy to conduct a comprehensive investigation into government agencies involved in renewable energy investments, procurement, and grant management since 2015.

He said that the resolution followed a motion sponsored by Rep. Okey-Joe Onuakalusi, representing Oshodi/Isolo Federal Constituency, Lagos State.

The motion according to him was on the urgent need to investigate government investments and grants received in the renewable energy sector from 2015 till date.

“In spite of significant investments and grants, including a 750 million dollar World Bank facility approved in Dec. 2023, and over 2 billion dollar received as investments and grants in the past decade.

“The sector has failed to show tangible progress or contribute meaningfully to the national grid, “he said.

According to him, the House is concerned about the seeming lack of transparency and accountability in the management of these funds.

Ogene said that as chairman of the committee on renewable energy, he would conduct a thorough investigation, leaving no stone unturned, to uncover the truth behind the sector’s underperformance.

He also said that the committee would ensure that the House’ mandate was fulfilled, and appropriate action taken against individuals or organisations found to have mismanaged funds or engaged in unethical practices.

“The investigation aims to hold accountable those responsible for the sector’s poor performance and release the sector from dullness and stunted development.

“Promoting in the process, sustainable economic development and addressing Nigeria’s persistent electricity challenges, ‘’he said.

Ogene appealed to REAN as stakeholders in the renewable energy sector to provide relevant information about the investments and grants in the sector within the period.

“The National Assembly is committed to supporting the renewable energy sector through legislation and oversight.

“This we must do to ensure that we move forward in our commitment to the net zero emissions journey as a nation.

“I urge REAN to continue its excellent work in advocating for policies and programmes that support the growth of the renewable energy sector.

“Let us work together to create a sustainable energy future for Nigeria, “he said.

Earlier, President of REAN, Mr Ayo Ademilua, said that the workshop was to track how Nigeria had fared in its commitment in the energy transition programme plan.

He said that the commitment of REAN to Nigerian Energy Transition Programme (NETP) was the reason the association monitored the progress so far.

“So this particular event is to measure the tracks across different sectors, the cooking sector, the transport sector, the industrial sector, to see how much we have done concerning energy transition in Nigeria.

“We are moving forward but a bit slowly. I believe that there is room for improvement in terms of the speed towards our commitment.

“But I see that there is the willpower on the government side to see how the ETP can move forward, but we need to move a little bit faster, “he said.

Ademilua said that one of the challenges of the transition programme was funding adding that more commitment by the nation was needed to make it work.

“Our people need a paradigm shift because the energy transition plan and commitment is not just a government commitment alone; all of us are in it.

“We have to plan to make sure that we do all that we are supposed to do,” he said