Together, Nigeria and Canada can do much more, says Osinbajo

Nigeria and Canada can do much more as a team, according to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, if they improve commerce, extend their current educational partnership, and keep talking about topics like climate change and the global energy transition.

This was the main discussion of the meeting between Osinbajo and Chrystia Freeland, the deputy prime minister of Canada, on Monday in Ottawa, the nation’s capital.

We are hoping for much more that we can achieve together, Osinbajo said during his meeting with prominent Canadian lawmakers, including senators and Freeland’s cabinet.

Similar comments were earlier conveyed by the Vice President during his welcome speech by the Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Canada.

The connection with Nigeria is “extremely important to us,” she said, noting that the Canadian government appreciates its links with Africa, particularly Nigeria, and has been “looking forward to this visit for a long time.”

Vice President Osinbajo reiterated the idea that gas should be used as a transition fuel with regard to the global net zero emissions targets and the energy transition. He claimed that this idea gained traction at the recent COP27 conference in Egypt, despite the fact that it is still largely unacknowledged in the West.

We have enormous gas reserves, thus we think we must use our gas as a transition fuel.
According to a statement from his spokesperson, Laolu Akande, the Vice President remarked, “We would prefer to continue to utilise our gas during the transition.”

The VP also clarified that the Federal Government’s Energy Transition Plan, which includes the current Solar Power Naija Programme, which was introduced as part of the Economic Sustainability Plan, is centered on renewable energy.

The Deputy Prime Minister of Canada responded, saying, “We will be happy to keep talking with you on that, adding that the use of Natural Gas makes sense, and noting that the dialogue should continue,” in response to the question of whether nations like Nigeria already struggle to obtain financing for gas projects.

The two leaders also discussed various fiscal and monetary issues, financial inclusion, social investment programs, and methods to assist the vulnerable, among other issues. They also discussed subsidies and other financial issues.