Global Energy Crisis: Why Nigerians Should Embrace Alternative Fuel Source

As the nations of the world initiate transition from fossil fuel to renewable energy to mitigate the current global energy crises, Nigerians have been told to embrace the alternative source of energy that is sustainable.

Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, made the call during an interview on the sideline of a one-day Conference in Lagos on “Journeying and Listening Together: Energy Crisis and Sustainable Lifestyle for Church and State” which was organized by the Ecology Work Group of the Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.

Earlier in his paper titled, “Global Energy and Environmental Crisis”, Prof. Akin Abayomi, the Lagos State Commissioner of Health, who is the Guest Speaker said the energy crisis around the world has led to a concern that the world’s demands on the limited natural resources that are used to power industrial society are diminishing as the demand rises.

The environmental and economic effects of the situation, he highlighted are the increase in the energy and electricity costs with gas prices rising by about 47 per cent; an increase in the cost of doing business; unemployment; global warming etc.

Prof Abayomi then listed as mitigating equity and global stability, factors such as Overpopulation; War and attacks; wastage; ageing energy infrastructure; inequitable overconsumption and unexplored renewable energy.

While calling for joint action in Africa, he disclosed that Africa contributes four of the global carbon dioxide yet is most affected by climate change as half of every 10 countries affected by extreme weather in 2019 are from Africa.

He said the rising cost of energy is driving the use of alternative energy and that Africa is in a terrible situation as 90 per cent of the WestAfrica forest cover has been lost in the last 100 years and Nigeria alone loses 350,000 hectares to destruction yearly.

Also speaking, the Archbishop of Lagos, Rev Martins lamented that many activities have given rise to climate change the consequences of which are now staring the society in the face.

He stated that the climate change has manifested itself in varied and unprecedented ways such as heat waves that have led to the uncontrolled forest fires devastating huge swathes of land; progressing desertification; rising sea levels leading to the destructive floods and landslides; chemical and technological pollution leading to depletion of biodiversity and destruction of the ecosystem.

“We are faced with the results of our collective and individual lifestyles and habits that lead to depletion of species of animals and plants and the pollution of the earth, turning it into what the Pope calls the pile of filth”, the clergy noted.

According to him, the conference was the church’s response to the call by Pope Francis some seven years ago when he released his encyclical LAUDATO SI translated to Care for our home. “the document centred on the care for the earth, our common home, environmental pollution challenges and the persistent poverty facing the world.”

To address the environmental challenges, he disclosed that Lagos is committed to improving air quality and that should Lagos achieve the target set by the World Health Organisation (WHO), it could prevent 2,800 deaths and 155,000 hospitalizations, reduce 2,300 asthma incidences and save up to $2.3billion annually.

In her earlier remark, the Coordinator of the Ecology Work Group, Dame Marie Fatayi-Williams, gave the rationale behind the conference as part of the efforts of the group to encourage and promote an environmental-friendly lifestyle.

She said the Conference would also help aggregate steps to and mode of execution of activities that will promote healthy living with the environment which apart from human needs is also an instruction from God who is the creator of the earth and the man that lives on the earth.