Attafuah highlighted that agricultural produce, including yam, fruits, and vegetables, is being wasted due to insufficient power, exacerbating the country’s unemployment crisis.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has revealed that Nigeria loses over N2 billion annually due to the country’s inadequate and unreliable power supply. This was disclosed at the ‘First National Legislative Conference and Expo on Renewable Energy’ held in Lagos.
UNDP Resident Representative, Elsie Attafuah, criticized Nigeria’s electricity challenges, explaining that agricultural products such as yam, fruits, and vegetables are wasted due to the power deficit. Attafuah also emphasized that these issues contribute to rising unemployment in the country.
In support of a shift towards renewable energy, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, called for Nigeria to embrace sustainable energy systems. “This conference marks a crucial step for the House of Representatives to engage in the global response to a critical challenge,” he said, pointing to the 92% global contribution of renewables to new power generation in 2024.
Abbas stressed that Nigeria’s reliance on fossil fuels underscores the urgent need for a transition to renewable energy to secure economic stability and relevance.