Nigeria targets 50% reliance on renewable energy by 2020 – Osinbajo

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday said that the Federal Government has set a time target of year 2020 to expand its reliance on renewable energy to 50% of its power output.

He made the remark while receiving a delegation led by the Indian High Commissioner in Nigeria, Mr. B. Nagabhushana Reddy, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

In a statement by the Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, Osinbajo said: “We are doing some expandable work in solar energy adding about 1000MW of solar. We are looking at 50% reliance on renewable energy sources by 2020.”

Noting that the Buhari presidency is determined to improve access to electricity, he said that solar is one of the options being actively considered.

Welcoming the Indian High Commissioner who recently resumed in Nigeria, he said he has resumed work in Nigeria at a time of “incredible opportunity.”

He welcomed the $100m credit facility from India to be injected into the Nigeria economy especially in the power sector and called for more active engagement between both countries.

Osinbajo also said that opportunities exist in agriculture and technology for Nigeria and India to cooperate, adding that diplomatic and economic relationship between both countries have been “extremely good.”

Speaking earlier, the Indian High Commisioner said his country supported the plan of the Buhari administration to “make the Nigerian economy strong.”

He also welcomed the recently launched “Green Alternative,” the agricultural road map of the Federal Government, saying India has a keen interest in expanding domestic agric production in Nigeria and also in making quality agric products for exportation.