The Abia State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability, declaring that environmental protection will remain at the core of its development agenda.
The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, made the declaration on Monday during a workshop on drafting the State-Level Implementation Plan and Guidelines for the National Policy on Used Off-grid Renewable Energy Equipment Waste Management, held at Paradise Crystal Hotel, Umuahia.
Ogbonna said the administration of Governor Alex Otti remains committed to sustainable development, environmental protection, and the promotion of clean energy initiatives across Abia State.
Describing the workshop as timely and strategic, the commissioner noted that the state is promoting a circular economy that encourages the recovery, reuse, and recycling of valuable materials.
According to him, the initiative will help reduce environmental pollution, create green jobs, and support Nigeria’s transition to a Net Zero economy. He highlighted Abia State’s partnership with the European Union (EU), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and the Federal Government of Nigeria as evidence of the importance of collaboration in tackling environmental and climate challenges.
Ogbonna stressed that while Nigeria continues to expand access to renewable energy through solar and other off-grid technologies, equal attention must be given to managing the waste generated by these systems.
“As Nigeria continues to embrace renewable energy solutions to improve energy access, particularly through solar and other off-grid technologies, we must also prepare for the inevitable challenge of managing the waste generated from these technologies. Without proper systems for collection, monitoring, recycling, and disposal, today’s clean energy solutions could become tomorrow’s environmental burden,” he said.
The workshop was organised by the United Nations International Development Union (UNIDO) in collaboration with the European Union and Abia State Ministry of Environment.
In her remarks, the National Field Coordinator of UNIDO, Mrs Emem Amana disclosed that they have trained data experts for seamless data collection and appreciate the Abia State Government for putting things in place for the success of off-grid renewal energy equipment, and assured that they would support Nigeria to succeed in industrialisation.
