Nigeria Needs Energy Addition Not Transition – NJ Ayuk

As the push towards energy transition intensifies, the Executive Chairman of African Energy Chamber (AEC), NJ Ayuk, has said that Nigeria does not need energy transition, but energy addition.

Ayuk pointed out that with about 90 million of its population having no access to electricity, what Nigeria needs is energy justice.

He noted that the country’s priority should be to provide access to electricity to those without electricity, and ensure that those who already have access to electricity enjoy reliable power supply.

Ayuk stated this during an exclusive interview with Majorwaves on the sidelines of the 2023 Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES), which held in Abuja with the theme “Global Perspectives for a Sustainable Energy Future.”

According to him, natural gas has a significant role to play in addressing poor access to electricity in Nigeria, adding that energy security is more important than energy transition.

“Nigeria doesn’t need a transition; Nigeria needs an energy addition and a just transition. When you have 90 million people in Nigeria with no access to electricity, what are you transitioning to? In the dark to the dark? It doesn’t make sense! You need energy addition.

“Energy addition actually means that we take care of those 90 million without electricity. The other 120 million with electricity, you make sure it’s abundant and reliable. And when you do that, then you can start looking at transition. What that also means is that you have to look at the role of natural gas in this. And energy security is more important than energy transition,” he said.

Citing Europe’s scramble for energy amidst disruptions in supplies caused by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, he stated that political leaders in Europe have gone to the extent of bringing back on stream coal-fired plants that were decommissioned years ago, just to ensure energy access for their citizens.

Ayuk advocated for energy to be made a human right issue, noting that having access to electricity and power is essential for the development of young Africans.

“We need to make energy a human right issue. And having electricity and power is important, especially for young Africans. They should not see their futures trying to cross the Mediterranean to search for greener pasture in Europe,” he emphasized.

“We need a just transition and energy additions, not a Western view of transition that has nothing to do with Africa,” he added.