In a recent development, Dr. Samuel Ogbuku, the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), has reaffirmed the commitment of the Commission to embrace green energy practices as part of its strategy to address the global challenge of climate change.
Following his participation in the Climate Change Conference, COP28, held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Dr. Ogbuku, in an exclusive interview on ARISE Television, emphasized the urgency of finding permanent solutions to the environmental issues plaguing the Niger Delta region due to crude oil exploration and exploitation.
During the conference, Dr. Ogbuku seized the opportunity to showcase the Niger Delta’s perspective on climate change and to seek partnerships and investments in renewable energy. He stated, “We went there to tell our story as the people of the Niger Delta and to let the world know the impact of crude oil exploration and gas flaring on our environment.”
Highlighting the severe consequences of climate change on the residents of Nigeria’s oil-rich basin, including forced migration due to pollution, flooding, and environmental degradation, Ogbuku asserted that the Niger Delta region is disproportionately affected.
Discussing the outcomes of the conference, Dr. Ogbuku expressed satisfaction with the progress made, particularly in forging partnerships with organizations such as the National Council of Climate Change. The focus of these collaborations includes addressing the pressing issue of gas flaring in the region.
The NDDC Chief Executive Officer revealed ongoing investments in solar power to illuminate communities in the Niger Delta, with expectations of recovering carbon credits from these initiatives.
Looking ahead to 2024, Dr. Ogbuku outlined the Commission’s plans, incorporating a comprehensive tree-planting campaign and the training of youths in renewable energy. “We are preparing our 2024 budget, and we will capture all these investment plans,” he announced.
During an event on the sidelines of the Climate Summit, Dr. Ogbuku disclosed a groundbreaking initiative to train 1,000 youths in the Niger Delta region in the conversion of fuel engines to condensed Natural Gas (CNG). “We want to make Niger Delta the hub of engine conversion, where we can also be outsourcing to other parts of Nigeria,” he explained, emphasizing the Commission’s commitment to actively participate in the green energy process.
Dr. Ogbuku emphasized the significance of bringing the challenges and prospects of the Niger Delta region to the global stage, stating, “There is the need for us to tell our own story at the global stage.” He underscored the importance of taking decisive actions on issues such as gas flaring, climate change, and carbon emissions, expressing the Commission’s determination to ensure that all developmental activities are green energy compliant through its Environmental Protection and Control Directorate.
