Dr Imamuddeen Talba, Pioneer Chairman, Steering Committee of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Associations Alliance (REEEA-A), has urged Nigeria to harmonise renewable energy policies.
Talba made the call on Thursday at the ongoing fifth International Investment and Partnership Conference of REEEA-A in Lagos.
He said fragmented policies among government institutions had caused duplication, competing initiatives and poor implementation across Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.
“We have had disjointed policies about renewable energy and climate change across different government institutions, resulting in competing policies.
“That is why we are not moving anywhere. Everybody wants to go to different ministries and agencies, and eventually, everybody is doing his own thing,” he said.
Talba urged the government to harmonise policies across relevant ministries, departments and agencies to establish a coordinated renewable energy development framework.
He also called for stronger legal and regulatory measures to ensure imported renewable energy equipment meets internationally recognised standards.
According to him, substandard solar and other renewable energy equipment have undermined public confidence and weakened investment in Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.
He recalled that a committee involving the Ministries of Finance and Power, Nigeria Customs Service and Standards Organisation of Nigeria was constituted.
Talba said the committee should ensure imported renewable energy equipment is properly certified before being approved for sale in the Nigerian market.
He said: “Most of the equipment do not work, and that is why people do not have confidence in them.
“You have a project that is supposed to last for 10 years, but within two or three years, it has stopped working.”
He also urged the government to establish a policy for managing expired renewable energy equipment, particularly solar panels, to prevent environmental and health hazards.
Talba said REEEA-A should support government efforts to develop appropriate policies for safely disposing of obsolete renewable energy equipment.
He further advocated a strategic approach to international climate negotiations, saying Nigeria must attend conferences with clear deliverables, comprehensive data and investment proposals.
“We go to these meetings, sign memoranda of understanding and come back without deliverables.
“We need a comprehensive presentation that will enable us access international funding,” he said.
Talba cited South Africa’s success in attracting substantial international support for its energy transition as an example Nigeria could emulate.
He attributed Nigeria’s limited access to international climate finance partly to inadequate comprehensive data supporting the country’s proposals.
The pioneer chairman, therefore, called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, private-sector operators and other stakeholders to develop bankable climate and renewable energy projects.
Talba also advocated comprehensive data collection on Nigeria’s coastline to guide climate adaptation measures and investment planning.
He said REEEA-A should collaborate with relevant government agencies to assess coastal vulnerabilities and projected challenges over the next 10 to 20 years.
“This will go a long way in providing the structure and information needed to address climate change challenges along the coastline,” he said.
Talba stressed that Nigeria’s renewable energy strategy should extend beyond importing solar panels and other renewable energy equipment.
He urged stakeholders to prioritise local manufacturing, noting that Nigeria possesses the raw materials and human resources required to produce renewable energy equipment domestically.
“We should start thinking about manufacturing renewable energy equipment in Nigeria. We have the necessary materials and everything required,” he said.
Talba congratulated conference participants and organisers, describing the event as an “excellent and commendable initiative”.
He also commended the electoral committee and participants involved in electing the alliance’s new leadership.
He urged the incoming leadership to provide effective direction and prioritise policy harmonisation, equipment standards and climate finance.
Talba also identified local manufacturing and stronger stakeholder coordination as key priorities for advancing Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.
