Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has disclosed the strides made in the area of solar power, aligning the efforts with Nigeria’s pledge to the Sustainable Development Goals and the mitigation of climate change concerns.
Ogbuku shared this insight during a presentation at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt, conducted by a delegation from the Asteven International Company on Renewable Energy and Carbon Credit.
In a statement signed by the commission’s Director, Corporate Affairs, Pius Ughakpoteni, on Tuesday, the NDDC boss said, ‘Our target is that every community in the Niger Delta region will be powered by solar; which is renewable and a cheap form of energy.’
‘In addition to this, we shall create industrial clusters to be powered by solar which will help in improving the agricultural value chain.’
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Ogbuku stressed the Commission’s devotion to climate-related issues, underlining the partnership with a US-based firm and adherence to the National Council of Climate Change.
He stated, ‘Solar power has the dual benefit of helping people with projects and building carbon credits. We expect to recover the carbon credits we have garnered so far. Such recovered funds can be reinvested, while highlighting the potential for environmental regeneration, particularly mangrove restoration.’
The President of the Council on Renewable Energy, Dr. Sunny Akpoyibo, pledged support to NDDC in developing projects with carbon values, saying: ‘NDDC should work towards getting a return on sustainable development. The Commission needs to unlock trapped values in its projects.’
Asteven International Company stressed the global significance of NDDC’s environmentally friendly projects during their presentation.
They promised the Commission their assistance in monetizing carbon credits, unlocking a sizable $2 billion carbon investment potential in the Niger Delta region.
Prof. Magnus Onuoha, the Executive Director of Asteven Group, highlighted the crucial position of the Niger Delta in the international climate change discourse and urged NDDC to actively involve experts in climate finance and technology. He stressed the importance of climate justice for sustainable development in the region.
NDDC’s commitment to solar power and carbon credits is in line with the SDGs, particularly Goal 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and Goal 13 (Climate Action). This forward-thinking strategy accentuates the agency’s unyielding dedication to sustainable development and climate resilience in the Niger Delta region.