The Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Power, has launched two Energy Efficiency Networks (EEN) in Kano State to improve energy efficiency and expand access to sustainable electricity.
Speaking during the launching, Head of Green and Digital Economy at the European Union (EU) Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Inga Stefanowicz, revealed that the initiative is co-funded by the German Development Cooperation and the EU.
According to him, the initiative aims at supporting industries, particularly Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) to reduce energy costs, improve productivity, and contribute to environmental sustainability as well as national development.
In his address, the Director General of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Dr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, lamented the significant losses suffered by Nigerian businesses due to unstable electricity supply, saying energy now accounts for over 45 percent of total production costs, a major contributor to the declining performance of industries across the country.
“Manufacturers, especially small and medium-scale industries, are the worst hit,” he noted. “The cost of alternative energy rose sharply by 42.3 percent, from N781.68 billion in 2023 to N1.11 trillion in 2024. That is unsustainable.”
Dr. Ajayi-Kadir commended NESP’s efforts in establishing the Energy Efficiency Networks, describing them as a timely intervention that would enable manufacturers to identify and implement cost-saving energy solutions, reduce power consumption, and cut carbon emissions.
Also speaking at the event, the Kano State Commissioner for Investment, Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives, Alhaji Shehu Sagagi, welcomed the initiative and pledged the government’s full support to ensure its success and sustainability.
