VICE-President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria will soon phase out diesel dependency and cut carbon emissions through the nation’s integrated hybrid energy system.
Shettima said this, yesterday, while declaring open the Decarbonising Infrastructure in Nigeria Summit (DIN SUMMIT), in Abuja.
He warned that Nigeria would struggle to compete or catch up with the world, if the nation’s climate dreams do not align with its development realities.
“Onne Port, for instance, is already emerging as the template for our quest to breathe life into a robust green economy.
”Discussions are currently underway with private investors to commit nearly 60 million dollar to electrify the port and transform it into Nigeria’s first green port.
“This is a strategic leap. Through an integrated hybrid energy system, we will phase out diesel dependency, slash carbon emissions, and provide 24/7 sustainable and affordable power to terminal operators and port users,” he said.
Shettima explained that 75 per cent of Nigeria’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the infrastructure sector, including energy, transport, urban development, and agriculture.
These sectors, according to him, are not just carbon-heavy but also form the nation’s economic arteries, especially agriculture, which supports 70 per cent of rural livelihoods.
Shettima observed that, while the staggering figures are a wake-up call for a nation that figures them out, the only way out of the “predicted doom is to decarbonise these systems.”
The Vice-President added that the target is to build a Nigeria with infrastructure that heals, and not one that harms.
” This is how we can alter our trajectory. If we do this right, we stand to generate over 1.5 million green jobs by 2035.
” We can also cultivate new export markets in clean energy and climate-smart agriculture, which would transform Nigeria into a regional leader in low-carbon enterprise.
