Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — An expert in development studies, Professor Fidelis Allen, has called on the Nigerian government to provide clear accountability for the $2 billion released by the World Bank for renewable energy development in the country.
Despite the substantial funding from the World Bank aimed at addressing the country’s energy challenges, Nigeria has been plagued with energy shortages even as the national grid has collapsed 11 consecutive times in 2024 alone, further cutting off ordinary Nigerians from having access to energy.
Speaking to SweetCrude Reports on the sidelines of 2024 Heroes Week commemoration in Port Harcourt, Professor Allen, who is also the Director Centre for Politics at the University of Port Harcourt, urged the government to clarify how the funds have been spent and whether they have contributed to the development of Nigeria’s renewable energy sector.
He emphasized the need for the government to provide updates on the utilization of these funds, which were intended to address the country’s energy deficit and promote long-term sustainable energy solutions.
“There are open reports that the World Bank and the African Development Bank have invested at least $2 billion, and there are relevant agencies of government and ministries that received these money from 2015 till date. But nobody has asked questions around these funds, although recently the National Assembly has begun asking questions on that money.”
The funds, according to the university don, were released as part of a broader initiative to foster renewable energy projects, as he raised concerns over the lack of visible outcomes, especially as Nigeria faces a deepening energy crisis, marked by high costs and limited access to electricity.
“Actually, that money was given for investments in the renewable energy sector, and I believe that if we had such money, we should begin to see results. Because at the moment, we have a dire situation where people are increasingly lacking access to energy because of price and the removal of subsidies.
“We need an alternative energy system that guarantees some level of energy democracy in this country.
“And so if the government has received that amount, we should know what has happened to it and whether Nigeria is making any progress with development of renewable energy,” he added.
