Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, on Friday, listed steps that need to be taken to achieve energy security in the country, lead to safe environment and uplift the social economic wellbeing of the people.
Saraki canvassed his view in his speech at a one-day workshop on the State of Energy Security in Nigeria, organized by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) climate policy and energy security program for sub-Saharan Africa in Lagos.
He said that the country must look inwards to provide the required capital to invest in energy infrastructure by reforming the administration of current major source of revenue, improving other revenue generating sectors and instituting an economic diversification framework that could initiate a stepwise transition to a green economic development pathway.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Hakeem Baba Ahmed, the Senate President, said it is key for the country to deepen strategic partnerships with countries that have more experience and resources to build capacity for policy coherence and technology transfer in order to generate made in Nigeria energy access innovations to grow the Naira.
He said while the 8th National Assembly firmly holds that the supply of adequate and affordable energy mix is essential, it should be a complimentary means to achieve energy security.
Saraki, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Sanni Onogu, further stated that since revenue derived from oil is highly volatile, fixing gaps leading to revenue leakages in the petroleum industry need to be addressed before applying any policy for energy sufficiency and sustainability.
He said that the passage of the Petroleum Industry Governance Bill (PIGB) by the 8th Senate is meant to reform the oil industry and make it more revenue efficient and investment friendly.
The Senate President stated that if a village of less than 10000 inhabitants in Feldheim can cooperate to achieve 100 per cent renewable energy supply, states in Nigeria could replicate the feet by partnering with the private sector.
He said that his vision is for the country to liberalize the energy situation in such a way that all segments of the populace can have uninterrupted access to power to support and uplift their social, economic and educational wellbeing.
