Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has recently announced that the agency’s efforts in the field of solar power are in line with Nigeria’s sustainable development goals to combat climate change.
This was disclosed by Pius Ughakpoteni, the Director of Corporate Affairs at NDDC, on Tuesday during a presentation by a delegation from Asteven International Company on renewable energy and carbon credits at the NDDC headquarters in Port Harcourt.
He said that the agency planned to power every household in the Niger Delta region with solar.
According to him, “Our target is that every community in the Niger Delta region will be powered by solar; which is renewable and a cheap form of energy. In addition to this, we shall create industrial clusters to be powered by solar which will help in improving the agricultural value chain.”
Speaking further, Ogbuku noted that the NDDC’s partnership with a firm based in the United States, as well as its adherence to the National Council of Climate Change, showcases the agency’s strong commitment towards climate-related issues.
“Solar power has the dual benefit of helping people with projects and building carbon credits. We expect to recover the carbon credits we have garnered so far. Such recovered funds can be reinvested.”
Meanwhile, Dr. Sunny Akpoyibo, the President of the Council on Renewable Energy, expressed his commitment to assisting the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) in the development of projects that have carbon values.
In his remarks, Prof. Magnus Onuoha, the Executive Director of Asteven Group, emphasized the significant role the Niger Delta plays in the global conversation on climate change. He urged the NDDC to actively collaborate with climate finance and technology experts, highlighting the importance of climate justice for the region’s sustainable development.