Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex C. Otti, OFR, has called for deliberate policies and adequate funding to ensure a just transition to cleaner energy as the effects of climate change continue to impact communities around the world.
Otti made the call on Friday, September 11, while serving as Chief Presenter at the public presentation and formal unveiling of Quest for Green, a book authored by 86-year-old Dr. Godswills S. Ihetu, former Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria LNG.
The book examines the changing climate and global efforts towards adapting to its effects. Governor Otti, who edited the publication, joined several eminent Nigerians at the event and formally unveiled the book.
Speaking at the occasion, Dr. Ihetu traced the origin of the book to an article written by Governor Otti in his ThisDay newspaper column on September 13, 2021, focusing on gas and climate change.
Ihetu subsequently wrote a rejoinder, which Otti published in his column. The exchange, according to the author, sparked further discussions and articles on climate change, culminating in Otti’s November 2021 piece titled “Of Glass Houses, Stones and Glasgow,” which focused on COP26.
Governor Otti said climate change was no longer a subject for debate, pointing to noticeable changes in weather patterns as evidence.
Climate change is already with us. The debate is no longer whether it exists. It is about net-zero targets, climate justice, cost and funding of the transition,” Otti stated.
Speaking on Abia’s transition to cleaner energy, the governor disclosed that the state had commenced the deployment of electric buses, with 40 already deployed and an additional 30 expected.
He said the state was targeting 100 electric buses by the end of the first quarter of 2027 as part of efforts to promote cleaner transportation.
Otti also highlighted the operational advantages of electric vehicles, noting that they have significantly fewer moving parts than internal combustion engine vehicles, thereby making maintenance easier.
He further pointed to innovations such as battery-swap technology as potential solutions to concerns surrounding electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The governor, however, stressed the need for Nigeria to maximize revenue from its existing natural resources before they become stranded assets as the global energy transition progresses.
He called for deliberate policies that would provide adequate funding and ensure that the transition does not leave vulnerable communities behind.
Otti commended Dr. Ihetu for authoring the book and also acknowledged the contributions of former Minister of Education, Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, to the event.
He urged Nigerians not only to purchase copies of Quest for Green but also to read and implement the ideas contained in the publication.
As part of efforts to promote a stronger reading culture within government, Otti disclosed that copies of the book would be distributed to members of the Abia State Executive Council.
He said members of the council would be assigned reviews of the book at subsequent Executive Council meetings to ensure that its ideas receive practical engagement.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, who served as Chairman of the occasion; Dr. Imo Itsueli; former Minister Don Etiebet; Chief Tunde Afolabi, CEO of AMNI Petroleum; and Dr. Ifeyinwa Nwakwesi, among others.
