A civil society organisation, Connected Advocacy has launched talks with the National Centre for Energy and Environment (NCEE) to strengthen local-level engagement, research and advocacy around Nigeria’s evolving energy transition agenda.
The engagement took place during an advocacy visit to the NCEE Zonal centre in Benin City, Edo State, on Friday, January 16, 2026, led by the Executive Director of Connected Advocacy, Prince Israel Orekha.
Orekha said the visit was aimed at strengthening the link between Nigeria’s national energy transition policies and their practical implementation at the local, institutional, and industry levels—an area he described as a major gap in the country’s transition efforts.
According to him, the engagement aligns with the implementation of a project titled “Taxation as a Phase-Out Strategy from Africa’s Fossil Fuel Industry,” which is being executed with support from the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC).
While Nigeria has developed a national energy transition plan, Orekha noted that translating policy commitments into actionable outcomes remains a significant challenge.
“There is a national energy transition plan, but implementation is where the real difficulty lies,” he said.
“Our concern is how this transition is domesticated within local processes, institutions and industries, including the oil and gas sector.”
He stressed that for the energy transition to be just and inclusive, it must be underpinned by sustained research, capacity building, and advocacy that resonates with affected industries and communities.
“What people do not understand, they cannot support. Awareness and capacity building, backed by research, are critical to driving a successful energy transition,” Orekha said.
“That is why we are engaging this centre—to move energy transition conversations beyond policy documents to practical, local action.”
Responding, Prof. Emmanuel Ogbomida, Ag. Director of the National Centre for Energy and Environment, welcomed the proposed partnership, describing collaboration as a core element of the centre’s mandate under the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN).
“One of our key focus areas is strong collaboration, both nationally and internationally, particularly in research, development and deployment of energy solutions,” Ogbomida said.
He noted that advocacy and public engagement were essential to the acceptability and long-term success of energy projects.
“It is a privilege to host Connected Advocacy because public advocacy plays a crucial role in ensuring that energy solutions are understood, accepted and sustained,” he added.
Ogbomida explained that NCEE is currently involved in multiple initiatives at the intersection of energy, biosafety and climate change, with a growing emphasis on supporting Nigeria’s shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
“Energy transition is central to our work—moving Nigeria away from fossil fuel dependence toward renewable energy,” he said.
“Renewable energy offers a more reliable and sustainable solution, particularly in addressing the country’s persistent electricity instability.”
He also linked the proposed collaboration to ongoing federal government initiatives, noting that the current administration has placed energy transition high on its development agenda.
According to him, solar power projects are already being deployed across the country’s six geopolitical zones, with universities and key institutions among the primary beneficiaries.
“This shows that energy transition is no longer just a policy conversation; it is being implemented, and the Energy Commission of Nigeria is at the forefront of that process,” Ogbomida said.
However, he cautioned that research alone is insufficient without effective communication and public engagement.
“No matter how strong the research is, its impact will be limited if it is not properly communicated,” he said.
“Partnerships with advocacy organisations help translate scientific findings into public understanding and policy support.”
Both organisations agreed that Nigeria’s energy transition must extend beyond renewable energy deployment to include energy efficiency, retrofitting of existing systems, and behavioural change in energy consumption.
They expressed a shared commitment to developing a structured working framework to guide joint programmes, including workshops, capacity-building initiatives, and sustained public engagement activities aimed at advancing a just and inclusive energy transition in Nigeria.
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