BY EDIRI EJOH

Programme Coordinator on Energy Efficiency Programme of the United Nation Development Programme, UNDP, Mr. Etiosa Uyigie, has said that Nigeria’s non-compliance to international best practice on the efficient use of electricity is costing the country about $84.9m annually.

This was revealed at the delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Nigeria, tagged: “Energy efficiency” in Lagos last week.

Speaking on the theme: Promoting energy efficiency best practices for National Development and Environmental Sustainability, Uyigie noted that developed countries like the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, and a host of others, may consume less electricity compared with Nigeria.

He attributed this to their conformity to international best practice by using energy efficient appliances and making sure the appliances were switched off when not in use.

According to him, “it is not uncommon to see electric bulbs and other appliances on during the day, this is unacceptable because they waste energy and emits greenhouses gas into the atmosphere, a phenomenon that is against environmental sustainability which we are preaching.”

He urged Nigerians to go for energy efficient appliances and inculcate the culture of putting off their electrical appliances when not in use.

He argued that the culture of imbibing international best practice in the efficient use of energy in Nigeria has not been given enough awareness, and promised that UNDP will ensure that Nigerians are sensitised through seminars, television programmes, training, and other means.

However, he argued that “energy efficiency does not mean not using energy but conserving this energy. When energy is conserved, it is generated; therefore energy efficiency is a form of energy generation.

“So if Nigerians will develop the culture of using energy- efficient appliances and putting off the appliances when not in use, the problem of power would have been reduced to a great length,” he added.

Also speaking, The Head, Unity Energy Efficiency, NESP, Dr Charles Diara, noted that energy efficiency is an important and very topical issue to ignore.

According to him, to create more awareness on energy efficiency and build human capacity, NESP is partnering with other associations in the country like; MAN, SON, NACCIMA, SMEDAN, NAPTIN, and others in the industry.

Continuing, Diara, called on government to make favourable policies on energy efficiency and urged Nigerians to tap into the National Energy Efficiency Action Plan, NEEAP, a joint venture with ECOWAS member-nations to improve energy efficiency process in the country.