Nigeria and the transition to a cleaner energy mix, By Haruna Momoh

Introduction

Access to energy has been associated with industrialidation and prosperity, while the lack of it has been associated with endemic poverty. This is a reason for the clear difference between the performance of most African countries and their western counterparts. In addition, increasing world population triggers conversations on issues of sustainability, especially in matters of food production, water supply, transportation and energy. Hence, conversations have shifted to aligning with the UN SDG goal 7 “Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all”, which aims, to limit global temperature to 1.5°C degrees.

In Nigeria, today, many households in rural areas, still use kerosene, firewood, sawdust, and coal. Those in urban areas are not innocuous, as poor electricity supply and lack of efficient public transportation system have led to the increased use of generators and cars with higher carbon emissions. Only recently, has…