Emmanuel OchayiThe Federal Government of Nigeria and the Kingdom of Denmark have announced a partnership to drive the green energy transition in Nigeria.
This collaboration was unveiled by Denmark’s Minister for Development Cooperation and Global Climate Policy, Mr. Dan Jorgensen, during an exclusive interview with journalists. Jorgensen shared his perspective shortly after a crucial meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Jorgensen highlighted the potential Nigeria holds in solar energy, emphasizing its affordability and reliability. He asserted, “So I will say that we need to do this for the climate, yes, but even if there is no such climate change, still this will be the sensible thing to do for economic reasons. And to make sure that as many people as possible have access to clean affordable energy. Because, in my opinion, it is a human right that you can have electricity or energy in your home.”
The minister lauded President Bola Tinubu’s administration for its bold steps toward transitioning to green energy, emphasizing the exceptional opportunity for collaboration between the two nations.
He stated, “There is no doubt that Nigeria has embarked on a very ambitious journey. The new administration has put forward some very bold and visionary plans for the future. And I think there is a great opportunity for collaboration between Denmark and Nigeria. We are all ready, collaborating, and we are already friends, but we can work even closer together, especially on the success of the green transition. We all know we need to do more to fight climate change; certainly, that is obvious in Africa, and Nigeria’s climate change is already evident. But it will be even more so in the future.”
Jorgensen also shared Denmark’s success story in transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources and energy efficiency measures. He emphasized Denmark’s wealth of experience in the renewable energy system, stating, “We have changed our energy system so that we move away from oil, gas, and coal and instead use renewables and deploy energy efficiency measures. When we started our energy transition in Denmark, we didn’t do it because of climate change or even the environment because that was back in the 1970s; it was not on the agenda then. We did it for another reason; we wanted to become independent. We wanted to make the most rational decision from an economic standpoint. What has shown in Denmark obviously is different from country to country, but we can definitely share our own experience.”
Follow Us