UNDP seeks Nigeria’s shift from oil to renewable energy

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is advocating for an accelerated shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy, warning that persistent dependence on oil creates significant vulnerabilities. These include exposure to conflicts, disruptions in supply chains, and environmental degradation.

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I’ve never heard of this place. Who would have thought that a place that many of us have never heard of, let alone visited, would have an impact? A disruption in that Strait would have an impact in all of our lives, irrespective of where you were living. From Japan to the U. to Gambia to Nigeria.

During the media launch of the Africa Minigrids Programme in Abuja, UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Ms. Elsie Attafuah, highlighted how recent geopolitical tensions underscore the world's vulnerability due to its reliance on oil. She pointed to the Strait of Hormuz as an example, noting that disruptions in such strategic waterways can have global repercussions, affecting lives far beyond the immediate region.

Attafuah emphasized that the issue is not merely the availability of oil and gas reserves but the fragility of global supply chains. These chains can cripple economies when disruptions occur. She also noted that many oil-producing countries in Africa have experienced prolonged conflicts directly linked to their oil resources, citing Angola and South Sudan as examples. "This commodity that we all so deeply depend on, also particularly on the continent of Africa, is a source of conflict and sometimes conflicts that never end," she stated.

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It’s no longer about whether there is enough oil and gas on the ground. There is still an abundance, but even when it’s there, the exposure to vulnerability and fragility in terms of supply chains can mean that all of our lives would halt if we were to wholly depend on this source of energy. Besides that, I was counting the number of countries in Africa that have oil, that are oil-based countries in terms of their economy. More than 50% of them have had conflict because of that oil, starting with ours here. Angola has fought a war. South Sudan is in the middle of its own protracted war, and you can just keep counting. This commodity that we all so deeply depend on, also particularly on the continent of Africa, is a source of conflict and sometimes conflicts that never end. So the subject of today is beyond just that we’re doing 23 mini-grids. I think it’s a response to the fact that the world needs to become less dependent on an energy source that is not only conflict-ridden but also is unsustainable and very sensitive to global disruptions.

In contrast, Attafuah highlighted Africa's vast potential in renewable energy. She argued that these resources can foster sustainable development without exacerbating conflicts. "Renewable energy in Africa has an advantage because we have it also in abundance and it’s not very hard to see; I don’t know, have any of you heard about a war that began as a result of the installation of renewable energy sources? I haven’t heard of conflicts that arose b," she remarked, underscoring the peaceful and sustainable nature of renewable energy sources.

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Renewable energy in Africa has an advantage because we have it also in abundance and it’s not very hard to see; I don’t know, have any of you heard about a war that began as a result of the installation of renewable energy sources? I haven’t heard of conflicts that arose b