LASG RESTATES RESOLVE TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF EMISSION, CONVENES STRATEGIC MEETING ON ADOPTION OF SOLAR RENEWABLES
The Lagos State Government on Thursday restated its commitment to address the issues of emissions as it convened a high-level validation workshop on the gaps and needs assessment for energy projects as part of the efforts to adopt solar renewables across the state.
Speaking at a workshop held at the Protea Hotel, Alausa, Ikeja, Permanent Secretary, Office of Environmental Services, Mr. Tajudeen Gaji stated 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-Ejorh explained that Lagos State has four laws, acts and policies that have been identified to be significant to this project.
She listed the laws as the Lagos State Government Electricity Policy (2021);
Lagos State Integrated Resource Plan; Lagos State Climate Action Plan (2020-2025) and the Lagos State Resilience Strategy.
The Consultant said the Nigerian off-grid solar market is considered to be the fastest growing in Africa at an average annual rate of 22% for the past five years.
