The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has pledged the National Assembly’s support for the ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s power sector, emphasizing the need for collaboration among all stakeholders to improve the stability of the national power grid.
This commitment was made at the opening ceremony of the International Power Engineering Exhibition and Conference in Abuja.
Represented by the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Power, Rep. August Gana, Dr. Abbas highlighted the need for renewable energy integration to enhance efficiency and meet energy demands.
The conference, themed “Birthing an Effective Electric Power Sector of the 21st Century: The Role of Professional Practice Regulation,” brought together key players in the industry to discuss these goals.
Dr. Abbas remarked, “Over the years, the sector has undergone several reforms and privatizations aimed at improving efficiency and reliability. Despite these efforts, the sector continues to face numerous challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, transmission and distribution losses, amid insufficient generation and distribution capacities.”
Reflecting on the sector’s history, he added, “The transition from National Electric Power Authority to Power Holding Company of Nigeria, while marked with optimism, was also met with skepticism, leading to the comical phrase ‘Problem Has Changed Names.’ Yet, despite these challenges, we have seen remarkable progress, especially through the privatization of the sector with successive generation companies and distribution companies. This shift has opened the door to more participants and anticipated investment, providing us with an opportunity to redefine the future of power in Nigeria.”
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, also addressed the persistent issues in Nigeria’s power sector, noting the impact of these challenges on millions of Nigerians.
“It is essential to note that Nigeria’s power sector faces numerous challenges, including frequent grid collapses, inadequate generation capacity, inefficient transmission and distribution networks, and regulatory hurdles that impede progress. Currently, our nation generates approximately 4,500 MW for a population exceeding 200 million, leaving about half of our citizens without reliable electricity access,” he said.
Despite Nigeria’s vast energy resources, Senator Abaribe observed, the country continues to struggle with significant issues in power generation and distribution.
“This stark reality underscores the necessity for a collaborative effort to reform and revitalize our power sector,” he added.
Earlier, the President of the Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria, Engr. Israel Abraham, stressed the importance of a strong power sector for national development and economic growth.
“Power is central to every index of development and a robust economy. As the world gets it right and provides good, efficient, and affordable power to its citizens and industries, new ideas on how to manage available power through smarter apparatus and control will continue to be relevant,” he said.
Engr. Abraham noted that the international power exhibition and conference aimed to create a unique platform to bring together major players in the global power sector, with a particular focus on Nigeria.