ECN Unveils & Popularises Gazette On NEP And NEMP

OMOGBOLAHAN BABAWALE

History was made today, Wednesday, 8th May, 2024, as the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) recorded a historic milestone in over two (2) decades by unveiling and popularising two books on the country’s National Energy Policy (NEP) and National Energy Master Plan NEMP).

The event, which held at the popular Auditorium Hall of the Petroleum Training Development Fund (PTDF) opposite Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Cadastral Zone, Abuja, had in attendance prominent members of the Federal Executive Cabinet (FEC), who came to solidarise with their host and Chairman of the occasion, Chief Uche G, Nnaji, the Honourable Minister for Innovation, Science and Technology as well as other critical stakeholders in the energy sector.

In his welcome address, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, who was the Chief Host at the event, who apparently could not contain his happiness at the unveiling, was superfluous in gratitude with the presence of many important dignitaries who graced the occasion even at short notices and despite their individual tight schedules.

To him, he could not have wished for better honour. According to the visibly elated energy expert, he thanked very profusely, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, the Chairman of the ECN Board for his unwavering support and leadership in taking bold efforts in pushing Nigeria to a greener economy.

While alluding to the importance of the Commission in driving a safer environment, cleaner energy economy, Dr. Abdullahi emphasised that the National Energy Policy (NEP) aims to make use the best use of all viable energy resources in the country for sustainable development. He equally enthused that the two national documents also would serve as guide for investors, development partners, and scholars, providing an understanding of the government’s overall policy direction. His words,

“It is pertinent to note that this approval and gazette have given these documents an ‘official’ recognition with an official stance of government on energy-related issues, providing clarity and consistency in policy direction. It has also given it a legal authority, ending enforcement and implementation of policies therein.”

Today’s event marked a watershed in the history of the Commission as the journey of over 21 years finally culminated in a success story. In April 2003, the need for National Energy Master Plan (NEMP) and National Energy Policy (NEP) was conceived, and by May 4, 2006, a National Committee on energy Masterplan (NCEM) was inaugurated to articulate the Master Plan for the nation. And today, more than 2 decades after, the nation and her people witnessed the unveiling and popularisation of the two documents.

The epoch-making event had in attendance Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche G. Nnaji, Minister of Defence, H.E Abubakar Badaru, Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), H.M Ekperikpe Ekpo, Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Mrs. Olu Verheijen, Dr. Sanusi Ohiare, who represented the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination, Ms. Hadiza Bala-Usman, representatives of the Group Managing Director, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation Limited, Mr. Mele Kyari, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), former Directors-General of Energy Commission of Nigeria, Prof. Eli Jidere Bala and Abubakar Sani Sambo both of whom did reviews of the documents and who gave very useful insights and several other stakeholders from the energy sector.

In his opening address, the Chairman of the occasion, Honourable Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, Chief Uche G. Nnaji stressed that the new energy drive as currently being witnessed in the country and under the leadership of the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer, Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi was in line with the Renewed Hope agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. Equally in her submission, the Special Guest of honour and Special Adviser to the President on Energy who was also commissioned to unveil the documents, Mrs. Olu Verheijen spoke on the Renewed Hope administration’s efforts on energy as regards reviving the economy and guaranteeing a safer environment.

The event, which was packaged by the Media and Publicity Unit of the Commission under its Director, Barr. Abdulazeez Elamah, witnessed goodwill messages from a number of dignitaries at the event including the Group Managing Director of NNPCL, Mr. Mele Kyari, the representative of the Minisyer of Water Resources, the representative of Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination and a host of others. At the close of event were group photographs of the various dignitaries and a cocktail for the invited guests.