Nigeria requires appropriate policies and the political will to explore alternative sources of energy, the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation has said.
UNESCO's Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Joseph Ngu, said this at a one day sensitisation workshop on national energy master plan organised in Abuja by the Energy Commission of Nigeria.
Ngu said although man was surrounded by energy required for sustainable development, the exploitation of the resource was a challenge not only to Nigeria but also to the whole of mankind.
He said, "The growing concern over Nigeria's increasing energy demand has prompted ECN and other stakeholders to develop the National Energy Master Plan. This is a major effort towards solving the national energy crisis.
"Fortunately, Nigeria is blessed with a rich variety of renewable energy sources. However, the efficient transformation of these alternative energy sources need appropriate government policies and political will, the support of the consumers and the effective development of the industrial sector to foster sustainable development."
He said owing to the importance of renewable energy, UNESCO had been mobilising science for the sustainable use of natural resources, renewable energy and energy efficiency.
Other efforts by UNESCO in the last biennium involved laying emphasis on building capacities in the basic sciences, engineering and the use of renewable energy, innovative interdisciplinary science, and engineering curricula development in the field of renewable energy.
Ngu pledged that UNESCO would continue to provide technical assistance, play advisory roles and work in collaboration with ECN and other relevant stakeholders to implement the National Energy Master Plan.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Ita Ewa, said to achieve the nation's transformation agenda, not only was the articulation of the energy master plan but also its implementation.
He said, "The National Energy Master Plan is the guide for the implementation of the National Energy Policy and covers all energy sources.
"The plan is a blueprint for the sustainable development, supply and utilisation of the various sources of energy available within the economy, and for the use of these resources in international trade and cooperation.
"This will undoubtedly strengthen our resolve to tackle the energy crisis in this country and to achieve the desired objectives of the present administration's transformation agenda."
Also, Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Mr. Emeka Eze, said the plan had been developed to capture all factors germane to the balanced development of the energy sector.
