Enugu Govt Approves Climate, Off-Grid Electricity Policies

The Governor of Enugu State, Peter Mbah, has approved an action plan and policy on climate and off-grid electricity.

Naijaonpoint reports that Governor Mbah said the climate policy, Enugu State Climate Policy and Action Plan (ESCPAP), incorporates emissions modeling, micro-energy audits, and extensive stakeholder engagement.

A statement from the Governor’s Media Aide, Dan Nwomeh, on Sunday, stated that the approved Enugu State Off-Grid Electrification (OGE) Policy Strategy Plan would assist the government expand electricity access to unserved and underserved communities, leveraging distributed renewable energy solutions to drive economic growth and improve public service delivery.

The approvals were announced by the Secretary to State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, at the end of the State Executive Council meeting.

Onyia said ESCPAP showed the government’s commitment to balancing economic transformation, environmental sustainability, innovation, inclusiveness, and climate resilience, ensuring that key sectors such as agriculture, energy, and natural resources were climate-resilient and future-proofed against environmental challenges.

“We do recall that Enugu State had started this policy design in the past eight months, and finally, after the surveys and after crunching the numbers from various instruments we used, we have come up with a policy and action plan.

“This action plan will help us enhance economic growth. This is very important for us in job creation, and we are looking at a situation where we facilitate the creation of 792,000 jobs in renewable energy, waste management, and reforestation by 2060,” he said.

In terms of sustainable economic growth, ESCPAP was projected to drive a 25-fold increase in the state’s GDP by 2060 through investments in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and green technology.

On energy transition, the state targets 80 percent renewable energy usage by 2060, with a 60 percent emissions reduction in the transport sector and a robust afforestation plan to enhance carbon sequestration.

The comprehensive policy and action plan included the setting up of an ESCPAP Implementation Committee, comprising representatives from the government, private sector, civil society, and international donor organizations, to ensure effective execution of the policy’s goals as well as the introduction of a climate change curriculum in Enugu’s Smart Green Schools to equip the future generations with knowledge and skills in green innovation.

The Climate Policy and Action Plan, he said, aligned with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and global climate agreements, thus positioning the state as a key player in the nation’s journey toward a low-carbon, sustainable future.

Also, highlighting the state’s Off-Grid Policy, Onyia stated, “This policy is designed to complement the Enugu State Electrification Policy that was passed in 2023 Enugu Electricity Law.

“This provides a framework that would catalyze private sector investment, enhance socio-economic growth, and improve the overall quality of life of Enugu people.

“This policy also recognizes the importance of distributed renewable energy solutions such as solar, wind, hydro, and biomass. These will be the key drivers for electrification in the rural and peri-urban areas.”