Catholic Secretariat seeks justice on energy transition

The Catholic Secretariat of Nigeria (CSN) has urged government, investors, and citizens to treat Nigeria’s energy transition as a moral and developmental responsibility, not merely an economic agenda.

Secretary General of the CSN, Rev. Fr. Michael ‘Leke Banjo, made the call in Abuja at the GreenFaith Nigeria Multifaith and Multisectoral Forum on Nigeria’s Just Energy Transition Plan.

According to him the country stands at a pivotal moment where energy decisions will shape the future of millions.

He urged inclusive policies and citizen responsibility to ensure Nigeria’s energy transition leaves no one behind.

“We gather not merely as advocates, policy actors, or religious leaders, but as stewards. The question before us is: what kind of future do we want to leave behind, and who will be allowed to share in it?” Fr. Banjo said.

He stressed that energy is tied directly to life, health, education, work, food security, industrial growth, and human dignity, warning against repeating past patterns where development benefits a few while burdening the poor.

Citing environmental damage in the Niger Delta, desertification in the North, gully erosion in the South-East, and flooding in Kogi and Benue, he said the “cry of the earth and the cry of the poor are not separate sorrows.”

He said, “True development cannot be measured solely in megawatts, investment figures, or economic indicators. It must also be measured by how we treat the most vulnerable among us: those on the margins of energy poverty, those whose lands and livelihoods are threatened by climate change, and those whose voices are often unheard.”

He urged the government to formulate clear, consistent, and just policies that protect affected communities, support small businesses, expand clean and affordable energy, create decent jobs, and ensure no part of the country is left behind.

He also enjoined investors and private sector to ensure renewable energy investments are guided by conscience, promoting local capacity, affordable financing, community ownership, skill development, transparency, and accountability.

Fr. Banjo called on citizens to mbrace daily practices of care for the environment, including proper waste management, water conservation, tree planting, and keeping public spaces clean.