Nigeria’s new Power Minister, Adebayo Adelabu has warned players in the country’s power sector especially state-owned entities that he will not tolerate actions that will hinder his Ministry’s attempt to improve power supply to millions of Nigerians.
Nigeria’s population is over 210 million yet only about 55 per cent have access to electricity.
The country has been grappling with inadequate power supply and interruptions in supply and this has pushed many who can afford generators to do so.
The new power Minister is not enthused about the Nigerian power situation and therefore wants the management of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), to up their game.
According to him, the days where the players failed to improve on the power situation was over.
“It is not going to be business as usual,” Mr Adelabu said during a meeting with CEOs of NERC, TCN and REA as reported by nationalonlineng.com
The Minister commended the management of NERC for its role in the recently signed Nigeria Electricity Act 2023.
The amended Act has paved the way for potential investors in the power sector by unbundling all the segments in the sectoral value chain and making it attractive to potential private investors as well as sub-national governments towards providing reliable, functional, and affordable power supply to households, small businesses and industries in Nigeria.
The minister also recognised some efforts being made by TCN to expand and stabilize the National grid to ensure uninterrupted and reliable power supply.
He commended the efforts of the Rural Electrification Agency so far at extending conventional and renewable energy to the unserved and under-served rural communities to complement the efforts of the National grid operators.
He, however, reiterated that all these efforts amount to nothing until the impact is felt by the ordinary Nigerian as well as the productive industries. This is the only way Nigerians can commend these efforts. Otherwise, it amounts to just winking in the dark.
“I believe only in positive results and not just activities. A humongous amount of resources from the government and our international development partners have gone into the power sector with little or no impact on power reliability, regularity, and functionality. This trend has to be reversed during my tenure. I cannot betray the trust and confidence Mr. President reposed in me by virtue of this appointment. There is no option to performance. We must ensure effective coordination and harmonization of all segments in the value chain. They all complement each other. A chain is as strong as its weakest link. This government of ‘Renewable Hope’ is like a moving train and all saboteurs will be crushed,” he said.
He also promised to give his full support to the Agencies as much as they are ready to cooperate with him.
Source: https://energynewsafrica.com