Enugu governor targets 792,000 jobs in renewable energy, waste management by 2060

Enugu State Government has approved the Enugu State Climate Policy and Action Plan(ESCPAP) as well as the Enugu State Off-Grid Electrification (OGE) Policy Strategy Plan to grow the economy of the state and facilitate the creation of 792,000 jobs in renewable energy, waste management, and reforestation by 2060.

Chidiebere Onyia, secretary to state government, disclosed this when he was briefing newsmen on the outcome of the State Executive Council meeting held at the weekend.

Onyia said the approvals would make Enugu State the first subnational government in Nigeria to adopt a long-term climate strategy that incorporates emissions modeling, micro-energy audits, and extensive stakeholder engagement.

He added that the Enugu State Off-Grid Electrification (OGE) Policy Strategy Plan would expand electricity access to unserved and underserved communities and also leverage distributed renewable energy solutions to drive economic growth and improve public service delivery.

He said that ESCPAP underscored Mbah administration’s commitment to balancing economic transformation, environmental sustainability, innovation, inclusiveness, and climate resilience, ensuring that key sectors such as agriculture, energy, and natural resources were climate-resilient and future-proofed against environmental challenges.

It also represents a pioneering effort to facilitate clean energy development, stimulate job creation, and foster green technology advancements.

“We do recall that Enugu State through surveys and after crunching the numbers from various instruments we used, we have come up with a policy and action plan.

“This action plan will help us enhance economic growth. This is very important for us in job creation, and we are looking at a situation where we facilitate the creation of 792,000 jobs in renewable energy, waste management, and reforestation by 2060,” he said.

The secretary added that in terms of sustainable economic growth, ESCPAP is projected to drive a 25-fold increase in the state’s GDP by 2060 through investments in renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, and green technology.

In terms of energy transition, the state, going by the policy, targets 80 percent renewable energy usage by 2060, with a 60 percent emissions reduction in the transport sector and a robust afforestation plan to enhance carbon sequestration.

He said the Climate Policy and Action Plan aligned with Nigeria’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and global climate agreements, thus positioning the state as a key player in the nation’s journey toward a low-carbon, sustainable future, highlighting the state’s Off-Grid Policy

“This policy is designed to complement the Enugu State Electrification Policy that was passed in 2023 Enugu Electricity Law.

“This provides a framework that would catalyse private sector investment, enhance socio-economic growth, and improve the overall quality of life of Enugu people.”

All these, according to the government, were in sync with the Mbah administration’s drive to grow Enugu’s economy to a $30 billion internally generated revenue (IGR).