National Energy Policy.

This National Policy provides for the development, exploitation and supply of rural energy needs, efficient energy technology development and use, energy security, energy financing and private sector participation, through specific strategies and covers key energy utilisation sectors, energy related issues such as environment, energy efficiency, energy financing and energy policy implementation, in order to create a framework for a better development of the energy sector and for its contribution to the national economy. Considering that Nigeria is endowed with many energy resource types, including oil, gas, coal, tar sands, solar, hydropower, fuelwood, nuclear, biofuels and other renewable energy resources, this National Policy should therefore promote the exploitation of all the viable energy resources in order to have an optimal energy mix, while ensuring sustainable development of the country and environmentally friendly energy practices.
The structure of the Policy covers the following matters: 1) introduction; 2) energy sources; 3) energy utilisation in different sectors, including agriculture; 4) energy issues, including: environment, energy efficiency and conservation, research and development, bilateral, regional and international cooperation; 5) energy financing, including indigenous participation; 6) planning and Policy implementation. Concerning the development of the energy resources for the agricultural sector, this National Policy provides for: energy needs of rural farmers; increasing of application of current energy technologies to crops, animal production, forestry, fisheries, food science and technology in order to achieve food security, capacity building with increased agricultural productivity, rational management of available human and material resources and the protection of the environment. Concerning the environment, this National Policy identifies deforestation and pollution and consequent erosion, desertification, loss of biodiversity, micro-climatic change and flooding, as the main issues of energy production, distribution and consumption. Particularly, the Policy focuses on strategies to mitigate and minimise the impact of air, soil and water pollution on the environment and particularly the impact of oil spillage on fisheries and marine life.