- Obasanjo says developed nations used oil and gas to attain development aspirations and are now condemning it after achieving their targets.
- African countries need to explore and produce their energy resources, including crude oil, gas, and coal, to generate adequate revenue for development.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has urged the developed economies to work towards making the energy transition process fair to Nigeria and other African countries. Developed nations had severally condemned the funding, production, and utilisation, arguing that they culminated in climate change and other environmental hazards.
Speaking at the ongoing African Energy Week (AEW) in South Africa yesterday, Obasanjo noted that the developed nations used oil and gas to attain their development aspirations and turned back to condemn after achieving their targets.
He said, “They said we cannot use our oil and gas resources. But these are the same resources they used to develop their economies. They want to keep us perpetually underdeveloped. We reject it. The developed nations need to grant us energy justice. We in Africa need energy justice to decide how and when to implement our independent energy transition plans.”
Similarly, the Executive Chairman of the African Energy Chamber, NJ Ayuk, said, “African countries need to explore and produce their energy resources, including crude oil, gas, and coal, to generate adequate revenue for development. We need revenue for sustainable development and implementation of our energy transition plans. The governments of different oil and gas need to sign contracts with the International Oil Companies, IoCs, and other investors. We also need to protect women against all forms of harassment in workplaces.”