The Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, has emphasized the importance of accurate and transparent data in the country’s quest to save energy and protect the environment. Speaking at the public presentation of the industrial energy efficiency database in Abuja, Abdullahi noted that reliable data is crucial for evidence-based policymaking on energy saving and environmental protection.
The database was developed under the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation and Global Environment Facility project, which aims to improve Nigeria’s industrial energy performance and promote innovation in clean technology solutions. Abdullahi explained that the commission has been focused on strengthening national industrial energy efficiency policies and regulatory frameworks, with the adoption of the UNIDO’s Energy Management Systems Standards being a key objective.
According to Abdullahi, most manufacturing industries in Nigeria are currently experiencing difficulties due to epileptic power supply, leading to factory closures and relocations. He stressed that policymakers must develop appropriate policy and legislative frameworks based on actual data to mitigate these negative impacts. The most effective way to address this issue, he said, is to improve the reliability of the energy supply by minimizing energy wastage through the adoption of energy efficiency and conservation best practices.
The national programme officer of UNIDO, Dr. Reuben Bamidele, commended the Energy Commission of Nigeria for implementing the project and underscored the importance of reliable data in planning and management. The director-general of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, noted that the public presentation workshop reflected a collective effort to raise awareness and engage stakeholders on the benefits of industrial energy efficiency, such as saving money, cutting energy use, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
The industrial energy efficiency consultant to the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Engr. Okon Ekpenyong, emphasized the practical urgency of measurement and baseline assessment, stating that assessment teams had visited plants to determine energy consumption patterns. He noted that findings revealed stark realities, with several factories shutting down due to soaring tariffs and unstable power supply. The development of the industrial energy efficiency database is expected to significantly improve how industrial processes are managed, with a wider impact on the energy sector.
