The Consumer Advocacy and Empowerment Foundation (CADEF) has engaged manufacturers, government regulators, environmental and health professionals, civil society organisations and other stakeholders on the need to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to cleaner energy sources, while taking into account the economic and infrastructural realities confronting businesses.
The engagement, held in Enugu on Friday, October 9, 2026, under the organisation’s Neighbourhood Power Protocol (NPP) initiative, examined the environmental and public health implications of air pollution around commercial and industrial establishments that depend on diesel generators.
Speaking at the event, CADEF’s Executive Director, Professor Chiso Ndukwe-Okafor, said the organisation had collected localised air-quality data in Enugu and Lagos states, focusing particularly on exposure to fine particulate matter known as PM2.5 around commercial establishments relying on diesel-powered generators.
She explained that the initiative was designed to provide evidence for public discussions on air pollution and encourage businesses to explore cleaner energy alternatives, rather than to indict establishments operating diesel generators.
“We just came to say this is what we are seeing. Not to indict businesses, but rather to encourage them that looking into alternative grid energy as a viable option for their energy production, since the national energy has failed us, to look at viable green energy sources for their production and running their businesses,” Ndukwe-Okafor said.
The CADEF executive director stressed that Nigeria’s clean-energy policies must reflect the different economic, industrial and infrastructural conditions across the country, particularly the disparities between Lagos and the South-East.
She observed that some policies affecting businesses in the South-East had been implemented without adequate consultation, leaving some operators struggling with requirements they were not sufficiently informed about.
According to her, the limited availability of compressed natural gas (CNG) infrastructure in parts of the South-East makes it difficult for businesses to comply with policies promoting the adoption of alternative fuels.
Ndukwe-Okafor noted that manufacturing operations in Lagos differ significantly from those in industrial centres such as Onitsha and Nnewi, particularly regarding access to alternative energy infrastructure and the financial resources required to switch from diesel-powered equipment.
“When policies are made, we need to look at it very well,” she said, calling for broader consultations with civil society organisations, manufacturing associations, financiers and academic institutions before policies affecting businesses are introduced.
She maintained that involving affected stakeholders in policymaking would help develop practical solutions supported by adequate financing, research and development, as well as infrastructure tailored to local needs.
The CADEF chief also advocated the integration of clean-energy awareness and environmental education into Nigeria’s school curriculum, beginning at the elementary level.
“Education does not start when you go to the university. The education needs to start at the elementary school level, incorporating clean energy awareness, green economy into the curriculum from elementary school all the way up,” she said.
Also speaking, Ijeoma Ezeasor, who represented the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi branch, commended CADEF for bringing manufacturers and consumer advocates together to discuss air quality and sustainable industrial practices.
Ezeasor said manufacturers recognised their responsibility to protect the environment and had continued to explore cleaner production methods, including smart manufacturing, renewable energy adoption and waste recycling.
She explained that MAN had promoted the concept of a circular economy, in which waste generated by one production process could serve as raw material for another, reducing environmental pollution while creating economic value.
“We no longer talk about waste in manufacturing. What we talk about is how to convert that waste to wealth,” she said.
The MAN representative, however, urged environmental and consumer advocacy organisations to promote a phased transition to alternative energy sources rather than demand an outright switch, stressing that the realities confronting manufacturers must inform the pace and implementation of the transition.
She explained that although manufacturers were committed to cleaner energy, inadequate access to CNG in the South-East and the high cost of converting existing engines and equipment remained significant barriers to a rapid changeover.
According to her, advocacy should therefore encourage businesses to adopt cleaner energy in stages, with realistic timelines and achievable targets that reflect their financial capacity, available infrastructure and operational requirements.
Ezeasor disclosed that manufacturers had already invested in cleaner energy options, including solar power for lighting and administrative buildings, while some had also adopted compressed natural gas where it was available.
“The only issue we have with compressed natural gas in the South-East is the availability of the gas and also the cost of switching to gas engines. So, as manufacturers, we are dedicated to green energy. We are also dedicated to the circular economy,” she said.
She urged CADEF to strengthen its engagement with manufacturers by developing practical recommendations, establishing workable timelines and helping to communicate industry concerns to policymakers and other decision-makers.
Ezeasor said manufacturers wanted to work with CADEF to establish measurable targets, assess progress periodically and identify obstacles affecting the adoption of cleaner energy.
She added that the association was willing to collaborate with the foundation because manufacturers were also consumers of electricity and therefore shared an interest in achieving affordable, reliable and sustainable energy supply.
The MAN representative further stressed the importance of partnerships that would allow manufacturers and consumer advocates to jointly address environmental challenges while ensuring that proposed solutions remained realistic and sustainable.
The Neighbourhood Power Protocol stakeholder engagement brought together government regulators, health and environmental professionals, civil society organisations and business leaders to examine the public health, environmental and regulatory implications of localised air pollution.
CADEF, a non-profit organisation committed to promoting consumer rights, financial literacy and sustainable development across Nigeria, is using the NPP initiative to generate localised air-quality evidence and encourage community-level action on pollution associated with diesel-powered commercial activities.
