Energy

Buhari Reaffirms 30 Gigawatts Energy Target

By Web News 522

President Muhammadu Buhari has restated the determination of the Nigerian Government towards achieving the vision of 30 Gigawatts of energy by the year 2030.

The President said this in Washington during the discussion panel on Just Energy Transition at the ongoing US-Africa Leaders Summit. 

President Buhari said as part of the National Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Policy, Nigeria set the vision 30:30:30, which aims at achieving 30 GW of electricity at that target period, with renewable energy contributing 30 percent of the energy mix. 

He explained that last year, Nigeria became the first African country to develop a detailed Energy Transition Plan to tackle both energy poverty and climate change, and deliver SDG7 by 2030 and net zero by 2060.

“Our Federal Executive Council approved the plan earlier this year and adopted it as a national policy. As part of the plan, we intend to completely eliminate the use of petrol/diesel generators by 2060 and therefore need to deploy renewables, particularly solar, at an unprecedented scale. For instance, the Energy Transition Plan requires that 5.3 GW of Solar be deployed annually until 2060 to achieve our targets.”

The President stressed that Nigeria had embarked on several reforms, one of the best in Africa, on mini-grid regulations, as well as the integration of renewable energy into the national grid.

He said the aggressive power sector reforms had resulted in cost-reflective tariffs in the power sector for the first time since privatization. 

The President told the summit that under the Nigeria Electrification Project, over 4 million people had been impacted through solar mini-grids and solar stand-alone systems. 

With respect to hydro, the President said the Zungeru hydropower Project was nearing completion and will add an additional 700 mw capacity to the grid. 

While stressing the resources that the administration has committed towards the realization of the vision, President Buhari called for considerable financial and technical support to achieve the goals.  

“For instance, our analysis shows that delivering the Energy Transition Plan requires $1.9 trillion in spending up to 2060, including $410 billion above business-as-usual spending. This additional financing requirement translates to a $10 billion investment needed per annum. Between 2000 and 2020, just $3 billion per year was invested in renewable energy in the whole of Africa.

President Buhari also called on US businessmen and the global community to tap into the innovation and potential returns in Nigeria’s enormous market, which is yet to be fully optimized.

Abdulla Bello

Subscribe to our Telegram and YouTube Channels also join our Whatsapp Update Group

News Analysis

Achieving Zero Hepatitis by 2030

By Web News 1084

In 2016, the World Health Assembly adopted the global health strategy on viral hepatitis to eliminate hepatitis by 2030. Since its adoption, activities have been scaled up in all member countries towards achieving this goal.

Hepatitis control strategies adopted include the introduction of HBV vaccination which ensures that infants receive three doses in the first year of life, prevention of mother to child transmission of HBV, ensuring the safety of blood in case of transfusion and increased testing as well as treatment.


Despite these strategies, the number of people with hepatitis is still high.
It is estimated that over three hundred million people worldwide are living with viral hepatitis while about 1.3million deaths occur yearly. In Nigeria, the prevalence of hepatitis B is about eleven percent of the population, meaning that up to two hundred thousand Nigerians are infected.

Experts say people with untreated hepatitis are at risk of developing liver diseases like cirrhosis and even cancer. They could also easily infect others with it. Moreover, nonchalant lifestyles such as sharing of razor blades, clippers and body scarification such as tattooing could expose people to hepatitis B as well as transmission from mother to child.


Time had come therefore for individuals to take their health seriously by avoiding all modes of transmission. It is also important to avoid indiscriminate use of drugs while pregnant women must make it a point of duty to know their status and do the needful.


It is heartwarming that the House Committee on Health has pledged its commitment towards eliminating hepatitis by 2030. The success recorded in the fight against immunodeficiency virus, HIV, malaria and tuberculosis were mainly due to support from donor agencies. If these agencies give same support to hepatitis elimination, the rate at which people die from liver-related diseases would be greatly reduced.

Therefore, there must be increased funding from government. civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, well-meaning Nigerians and corporate organisations should extend helping hands.

It is imperative to strengthen health care delivery systems and the primary health care centre across the country. Close monitoring of traditional birth attendants, mission houses and other unrecognized birth outlets is necessary to ensure that babies get the first shot of HBV at birth and subsequent ones.

Most importantly, there should be increased capacity for testing of hepatitis B and C especially in the rural areas while treatment drugs and vaccines be subsidised for low income Nigerians to gain access.

Anthonia Akanji