<
https://apnews.com/article/nigeria-fuel-subsidy-solar-climate-9b3f32283b0f2fab9f6096761ef815e7>
"ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — As soon as Bridget Mosanya went to get a book from her
bag to study, it started to rain. The power immediately went out, as it
virtually always does in Nigeria, even if it is barely drizzling.
“NEPA has taken light,” the 17-year-old said in her now-dark room. She was
referring to the National Electric Power Authority, a long-defunct public
utility whose abbreviation is still the commonly used name for the intermittent
power supply from Nigeria’s fragile electric grid.
Her father, Tunde Mosanya, turned on the family’s small solar system, lighting
up the living room, master bedroom and his daughter’s room. It was enough for
Bridget to finishing studying that night.
But a street away, on the east side of Nigeria’s capital of Abuja, 13-year-old
Bamkinaan Panshak would have to wait to do his homework until the power was
restored or make do with his parent’s half-charged cellphone flashlight.
His family used to start up their gasoline-powered backup generator during
blackouts because they do not have a solar system. But since new President Bola
Tinubu removed a subsidy that helped reduce the price of gas, they can’t afford
the cost of fuel.
“It is just beyond means for now,” said Bamkinaan’s father, Guleng Panshak, who
is a teacher.
The end of the long-running fuel subsidy last month has increased interest in
solar, operators say, which could accelerate progress toward mitigating climate
change in Africa’s largest economy. But experts say the government needs a
clear plan to make the most of this new opportunity to advance Nigeria’s
climate goals, which include eliminating fossil fuel-run generators widely used
to keep the lights on in homes and businesses."
Via
Future Crunch:
<
https://futurecrunch.com/good-news-school-meals-transit-us-ecuador-conservation/>
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
