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ECOWAS Expresses Commitment Towards Achieving West Africa’s Renewable Energy Target
ECOWAS Expresses Commitment Towards Achieving West Africa’s Renewable Energy Target
By: Michael Mike
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has expressed its commitment to putting in place needed infrastructure that would ensure that the regional renewable energy target is achieved.
Speaking at the capacity building workshop for private sector actors on green hydrogen, the regional body said its plan is to produce 0.5 million of tonnes of green hydrogen per year by 2030.
The Regional Coordinator for Renewable Energy and Green Hydrogen at West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), Dr Bruno Korgo, noted that the region has huge potentials in terms of renewable energy like solar, wind, hydrogen and so on.
Korgo said that this potential constitute a good basis to go for green hydrogen production because it is considered as the vector for decarbonising a lot of sectors across the world.
He said: “In the West African Green Hydrogen Policy, the target is for West African region to be able to produce by 2030, 0.5 million of tonnes of green hydrogen per year and by 2050, 10 million tonnes per year. This policy has been adopted by our heads of states.
“But the ministries of energies have to work to make it happen and that is why we are partnering with government and private sector to join hands so that we may reach out goal.
“This unique energy is today perceived as the energy of the future. The opportunity to produce, use and export green hydrogen to other demand centres appear like an opportunity for West Africa region to start now to think about green hydrogen to harness its potentials and also capture the future energy market that is coming with regard to green hydrogen demand.”
The Assistant Director in Nigeria’s Ministry of Power, Temitope Dina, said the Federal Government is ready to harness the immense potentials in green hydrogen to drive economic growth, energy security and environmentally sustainable West Africa.
Dina said this target has been marked by dedication, collaboration and a clear understanding of the pivotal role green hydrogen will play in the energy future.
“Green Hydrogen stands at the forefront of global transition to clean energy. It offers the promise of reducing carbon emission, diversifying our energy source and also fostering innovation.
“In our region, with its abundant renewable energy resource, green hydrogen could be a game changer. This could simulate our local economy, industries, create jobs and provide significant boost to our economies across West Africa.
“This workshop represents a critical opportunity for us to deepen our understanding of the green hydrogen technology, explore best practices and build the partnership necessary for the successful implementation of the green hydrogen policy and strategies.”
On his part, the Executive Vice Chairman of SIDIL Energy Alternatives Limited, Alhassan Dantata, said green hydrogen is the last option of the globe to transit to clean energy.
Dantata said Africa must play its role in achieving this milestone, stressing that: “Africa played different roles in the three past industrial revolutions, the role we played was that we were the catalyse because men and women were enslaved and our raw materials were taken away to develop other parts of the world, adding that: “But the beautiful part of this energy we are discussing about is that this is something you have to have your foot on the ground because Africa now has what you can’t take away. We have the wind, the sun and we have the water and you can’t take that away.
“We have the sun 365 days in a year. We have the wind because coming from the Sahara, we have the northeast trade winds that always keep the wind mines on 24/7 and so we got no excuse. We should be the frontrunners in green hydrogen.
“Africa should be about to export power through submarine cables just like we are importing bandwaves from Europe. We should be giving them power because we have the sun, the wind and the water.
“It is just our will. Do we have the political will, the right mindset and can we collaborate to make it happen. From what I have observed over a period of three to four years, the killer effect in Africa is just two, tribalism and religion. If we can overcome that Africa will be great.”
The two-day workshop ends on Friday in Lagos.
ECOWAS Expresses Commitment Towards Achieving West Africa’s Renewable Energy Target
News
Zulum Says Borno Government Will Supports Plan to Upgrade Maiduguri Airport to International Status
Zulum Says Borno Government Will Supports Plan to Upgrade Maiduguri Airport to International Status
By: Michael Mike
Borno State Governor, Babagana Zulum, has assured the minister of aviation and aerospace, Mr Festus Keyamo, of his administration’s support as the ministry announced a plan to upgrade the Muhammadu Buhari Airport, Maiduguri to international status.
Zulum gave the assurance on Monday during a visit to the ministry’s headquarters in Abuja.
He said: “As the chairman of northeast governor’s and this is our first International Airport, I want to assure of the political will needed to ensure the implementation of this laudable stride.”
The governor emphasised that Maiduguri being a gateway for most countries around Lake Chad and Central Africa, would stimulate economic development in the northeast region by upgrading the airport.
Speaking earlier, the aviation minister assured that Muhammadu Buhari Airport would take off as a full International Airport on January 1, 2025, noting that all the takeoff preparations have been concluded and that relevant government agencies have been notified of the development.
The minister expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving the upgrade of Muhammadu Buhari Airport, Maiduguri, stressing that of all the geopolitical zones, only the northeast has no full International airport in the country.
Zulum was accompanied on the visit by senators Mohammed Ali Ndume, Mohammed Tahir Monguno, and Kaka Shehu Lawan, who represent Borno South, North and Central, respectively.
Borno APC Chairman Hon. Bello Ayuba, Deputy Speaker of Borno State House of Assembly, Engr Abdullahi Musa Askira and other senior government officials were also present on the visit.
Zulum Says Borno Government Will Supports Plan to Upgrade Maiduguri Airport to International Status
News
Black with Nigerian Root Seek Citizenship
Black with Nigerian Root Seek Citizenship
…Promise to invest trillion dollars in Nigeria
By: Michael Mike
Black men across the globe whose forefathers were taken as slaves from the African continent but recent DNA test have shown to be Nigerians have pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to offer them Nigerian citizenship
They have equally expressed their willingness to bring investment worth trillions of dollars into the Nigerian economy.
Speaking at pre-event briefing in Abuja on Monday, the President of the African Diaspora Union, Archbishop Chidiebere Ogbu, gave the disclosure.
Ogbu, who spoke to journalists ahead of the International Gathering in Honor of the Africans in Diaspora scheduled for between October 18 to 27, 2024 in Abuja and other parts of the country, revealed that the event
organised by AFRIDU in partnership with the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), would bring together African descendants from around the world with the aim to reconnect with their ancestral homeland.
Ogbu, while stating that President Bola Tinubu is expected to address the gathering during the event in Abuja,said a passionate appeal has already been made to him to address the request of granting Nigerian citizenship to those that have traced their roots to the country.
He said: “For clarity purposes, the Historic African Diaspora are indigenous Africans
whose ancestors were forcefully carried away through conspiracy, manipulation, and coercions into slavery over 500 years ago, and who are dispersed in Europe, North America, South America, Caribbean and the
Oceania.”
He advised Nigeria leader to emulate other African countries who have already established the legal framework for those who had traced their root through DNA to those countries to be granted citizenship.
He added that this would further enhance the drive for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country, noting that these group of people are willing to invest trillion of dollars in Nigeria’s economy.
The AFRIDU President therefore said for many of the participants, the event represents a long-awaited opportunity to return to Africa, not just as visitors, but as people reclaiming a deep personal and historical connection.
Nigeria, which was a central hub in the transatlantic slave trade, holds particular significance for those whose ancestors were forcibly taken from its shores more than 500 years ago.
He said: “The gathering will give all the
Black peoples of the world outside Africa the opportunity to visit Africa especially
Nigeria, with most of them visiting different states where they believe is their ancestry home which will usher in a great mass movement of the African Diaspora Experts, Investors, Professionals, Scientists, Entertainers, Academia, and people with diverse skills to Nigeria in the actualization of the Africans in Diaspora integration,” he said.
Black with Nigerian Root Seek Citizenship
News
Nigerian Government Says Super Eagles Was Placed in Detention
Nigerian Government Says Super Eagles Was Placed in Detention
By: Michael Mike
The Nigerian government has described the incident with the National team, the Super Eagles in Libya as a detention.
The government in a statement by the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Eche Abu-Obe said it received with dismay the news of the unfortunate detention of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF) officials and the Super Eagles of Nigeria at the Al Abraq International Airport several hours after arriving ahead of Tuesday’s 2025 AFCON qualifier against Libya.
The statement said: “To resolve the incident, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, initiated a phone call to the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Eastern Government, Dr. Abdulhadi Lahweej. This spawned a series of actions, culminating in steps taken to assuage the officials and reassure the players of their safety. Subsequently, the contingent departed for Nigeria.
“In ending the phone conversation, Amb. Tuggar commended the authorities’ actions in resolving the incident, and both Ministers appreciated the amicable resolution of the unfortunate situation in the spirit of African brotherhood.”
Nigerian Government Says Super Eagles Was Placed in Detention
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