04 September 2013, Abuja – Former Director General of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, ECN, Prof. Abubakar Sani Sambo, has described the current 0.9 percent electricity growth in rural areas as insignificant for any meaningful development in Africa.
Prof. Sambo who is Vice Chair for Africa, World Energy Council, WEC, and Chairman, Nigerian National Committee, NNC-WEC, disclosed this Tuesday at a one-day national workshop on Energy Access for Sustainable Development in Abuja.
In his address, WEC Regional Manager, Dr. Latsoucabe Fall, decried the insignificant developments for solar, wind and bio-energy, coupled with over-dependence on hydro power.
Dr. Latsoucabe further noted that 700 million Africans are using traditional biomass for cooking with challenge of modern energy access more acute in sub-Saharan Africa thereby dwarfing any meaningful development.
Earlier, Director General/CEO of the Commission, Prof. Eli Jidere Bala, said that modern energy supply through electricity, fuels and process heat forms are the relevant final energies required for economic growth and poverty push-off.
– Simon Echewofun, Daily Trust