Dem Say Dem Wan Do Clean Energy—Abi Na Another Scam?
Nigeria don talk say dem dey ready for energy transition. Dem say dem go stop to dey use crude oil anyhow, and gas go be our “bridge” to clean energy before we fit enter full renewable energy. According to government, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) clean pass petrol (PMS) because e fit cut carbon emission by 25% and e no get all those bad-bad chemicals wey dey mess up environment.
E sound good for ear, abi? But make we reason am well—Nigeria don get 209 trillion cubic feet of gas since, but we still dey waste 7 billion cubic feet every year because we no get better infrastructure to process am. Now government don wake up talk say if dem share N122 billion give six companies, gas go suddenly begin work well for this country.
Dem Don Share Money—Who Dem Give and How Dem Take Choose?
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, don announce say government don share N122 billion give six companies:
- Asiko Energy Holdings Limited
- FEMADEC Energy Limited
- Ibile Oil and Gas Corporation
- Nsik Oil and Gas Limited
- Rolling Energy Limited
- Topline Limited
According to am, dem pick these companies because dem get “strong track record” for gas business. But e be like say na only government see that track record because e no clear how dem take pick these companies.
Some better questions wey we suppose ask be say:
- Who check dem track record?
- Dem do bidding or na normal “who know who” selection?
- Wetyn exactly dem suppose use this money do?
This Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund (MDGIF) na something wey suppose start since 2021 when dem put am inside Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). But as usual, na when e don reach time wey gas dey hot for market, na im dem begin share money. Make person no talk say na coincidence.
CNG vs Petrol—E Make Sense?
On top paper, Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) be like better idea. E cheap pass petrol, e reduce carbon emission, and e fit help Nigeria stop fuel subsidy wahala. Government even talk say dem go convert one million vehicles to CNG for the next three years.
But my people, make we ask ourselves—how dem wan take do am when we never even get ordinary gas pipeline wey dey work well? Nigeria no even get enough gas station for the whole country, yet government dey plan nationwide CNG project. You sure say e go work?
And no forget say gas get serious environmental risk. If petrol leak, e go small-small. But if gas leak or explode, e fit wipe one full community! And with the kind carelessness wey we sabi for Nigeria, e fit turn wahala wey no get part two.
Lincgreen Dey Shake Tables for This Matter
Na why people wey get sense don dey step up. Lincgreen Climate Change Initiative recently gather young climate activists, energy professionals, and environmental advocates make dem discuss how we go fit hold all these companies accountable. Wetin we learn be say:
- To throw money for problem no go solve am if accountability no dey.
- No be just to talk energy transition, we need transparency.
- If we go dey use gas, we need better regulations and serious monitoring.
Groups like BudgIT and Tracka don dey try with dem statistics, but we still need more waka, awareness, and action. How many Nigerians sabi wetin dey inside PIA? Who go track how these six companies take use the money?
Wetin We Go Do Now?
This energy transition no be just to change fuel from petrol to gas. Na to make sure say e no be another scam wey go benefit only politicians and dem paddy.
If government really serious, dem suppose:
- Show us how dem take choose these companies.
- Give us full breakdown of wetin these companies go do and when dem go deliver.
- Put strong regulation wey go make sure say everything dey run well.
- Include community people for decision making, no be just oil company executives.
Until we see these things, we go continue to ask questions. Because if we don learn anything for this country, na say anytime big money enter matter, some people go just chop am, and e no go reach common man hand!
Written BY,
Diolu Tobechukwu Prosper
Co-founder, Lincgreen Climate Change Initiative
