Nigeria requires $410 billion in clean energy investments to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060, according to Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning. Speaking at the Global South Peer Learning Workshop, Bagudu emphasized the critical need for synergy to attract investments in clean energy. He highlighted $23 billion in identified investment opportunities in Nigeria's power generation, transmission, and clean cooking sectors, with ongoing efforts to secure financing commitments.

Bagudu reaffirmed the government's commitment to national development plans, particularly the Nigeria Energy Transition Plan (ETP), which aims to address energy poverty, climate change, and promote sustainable economic growth. Dr. Olumide Abimbola, Executive Director of the Africa Policy Research Institute (APRI), noted the intensified climate emergency, marked by increased floods, desertification, and food insecurity affecting millions of Nigerians. The workshop seeks to foster African agency, responsible mineral leveraging, and stronger Global South partnerships.

Ghana's Energy Minister, John Abdulai Jinapor, acknowledged public frustration with power outages and took responsibility for the situation during an interview on Joy News’ PM Express. Jinapor admitted the energy challenges predate his tenure but emphasized that excuses wouldn't resolve the issues. He highlighted power deficits inherited from the previous NPP administration, noting significant load shedding throughout 2024, which led to criticism of the former energy minister.

Despite inheriting the issues, Jinapor accepted full responsibility and accountability for the power sector's performance. He noted that the public primarily holds the Energy Minister responsible for power supply, regardless of the actions of entities like ECG, PURC, Energy Commission, GRIDCo, and VRA. Jinapor committed to improving the sector and ensuring a better state by the end of his term, driven by President Mahama’s belief in his capabilities.

Jinapor also addressed the need for reforms in how power distributors, especially ECG, communicate with customers during outages. He described current communication practices as unacceptable, citing delays, misinformation, and poor coordination as factors eroding public trust. He acknowledged infrastructure challenges but stressed that customer service excuses were no longer tolerable, particularly regarding the frequency of outages during rainfall.

The minister recounted a personal experience highlighting internal communication failures within ECG and emphasized the importance of accurate updates and respect for customers. He outlined plans for short-term, medium-term, and long-term solutions to stabilize the national grid and improve customer service, emphasizing the need for immediate reforms in response times and communication.

Acknowledging the severity of the challenges, Jinapor promised swift reforms to address inefficiencies and stressed that infrastructure problems should not excuse poor service delivery. He highlighted the need for better information flow to calm aggrieved customers and assured the public that measures are being implemented to ensure quicker response times and overall grid stability, emphasizing that lights must stay on even during rainfall.