Reps to Investigate $2 Billion Renewable Energy Investments in Nigeria
By Oluwakemi Kindness
The House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy has invited stakeholders to an investigative public hearing on the two billion dollars renewable energy grants and investments meant for the development of the renewable energy sector in Nigeria, which has not made a commensurate impact on the energy security challenges in the nation.
The public hearing which is scheduled for Tuesday, November 5th and Wednesday, November 6th, 2024, follows the mandate given to the Committee by the House of Representatives on Thursday June 6, 2024, to investigate Ministries, Departments, and Agencies with dealings in investment, procurement, and receipt of grants for the development of the renewable energy sector.
According to a statement by the chairman of the committee, Representative Victor Afam Ogene, on Sunday in Abuja, the probe will cover the period from 2015 to 2024.
Representative Ogene said the House is miffed that “Despite government attracting over two billion dollars in renewable energy investments in the past decade, as reported by the Rural Electrification Agency in 2023, there has been no noticeable improvement in the sector.
“The House of Reps was alarmed that the dysfunctional electricity generation and supply system persists, contrary to the objectives behind government investments and grants aimed at developing the renewable energy sector, hence the resolution to probe these investments in order to determine the integrity of the procurement and execution processes.”
He said the investigation is not to witch-hunt but to discourage opaqueness and promote transparency and objectivity in handling government or public resources.
He thanked the European Union and other donor agencies for their useful submissions, insights and cooperation in sharing information with the committee.
The invited agencies and stakeholders include, but are not limited to Rural Electrification Agency, Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), NASENI Solar Energy Ltd, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Country Representative European Union, Union Bank Plc (Compliance Department), Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, Federal Ministry of Power, Energy Commission of Nigeria and Federal Ministry of Finance.
Others are, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Federal Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management, Federal Ministry of Petroleum (Gas Resources), Niger Delta Development Commission, United States Agency for International Development, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Accountant General of the Federation, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Associations (Alliance) REEEA-A and Other Concerned Stakeholders.
END
Photo credit….X
