Climate Change: Lagos To Adopt Solar Renewable Energy

It appears Lagos State Government is set to adopt Solar Renewable Energy as its main source of power off National Grid.

The Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Mr. Tajudeen Gaji disclosed this at a validation workshop on the gaps and needs assessment for energy projects in Lagos.

He said that the workshop was part of the efforts of  the government to adopt solar renewables across the state, adding that from the last emission inventory, the energy sector has the highest ranking in the state emission profile.

He added that to address this, the adoption of solar renewables was recommended in the Lagos Climate Action Plan.

Gaji said the document had been painstakingly examined, stressing that it now requires everyone’s commitment to put Lagos on the emission reduction trajectory and taking global actions.

According to him, “It is imperative to state that under the consultancy of Lagos Urban Development Initiative (LUDI), the assessment exploited a variety of approaches from the inception report, stakeholder mapping, bilateral engagements as well as a ‘Charrette’ to come up with the business and financial models to deliver the project.

He said the high-level validation on the Energy Assessment report cuts across all relevant stakeholders for the endorsement of the document.

He commended the assistance of the UKAid and C40 Cities for the Technical Assistance under the Climate Action Implementation Africa Programme (CAI) facilitated by the C40 Cities Leadership group for footing the bill to conduct the gaps and need assessment on the Distribution of Solar Solutions for Residential apartments and Small and Medium Enterprises in Lagos.

The Permanent Secretary expressed gratitude to the Government of the United Kingdom, State Ministries, Departments and Agencies, technical experts, the academia, civil society organisations and the private sectors for their immense contributions during the course of the technical assistance.

In his presentation, the City Adviser, C40 Cities, Mr. Maximus Ugwwuoke noted that the Climate Action Plans are stepping stones to effective, integrated and transformative implementation and climate response.

He said embedding climate action plans into cities’ governance, planning and decision-making structures and supporting continued monitoring and progress of climate actions, adding that investments in the energy sector have great potential in creating green jobs, improving quality of life and promoting good health.

In another presentation, a Consultant from Lagos Urban Development Initiative (LUDI), Mrs. Olamide Udoma-Ejorhexplained that Lagos State has four laws, acts and policies that have been identified to be significant to this project.