The National Assembly (NASS) has thrown its weight behind ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s power sector, calling for a collaborative effort to end the frequent grid collapses that have plagued the country. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, made this pledge at the opening ceremony of the International Power Engineering Exhibition and Conference in Abuja.
The conference, themed “Birthing an Effective Electric Power Sector of the 21st Century: The Role of Professional Practice Regulation,” brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss the future of Nigeria’s power sector. Representing the Speaker, the Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Power, Rep. August Gana, emphasized the need for integrating renewable energy into the country’s energy mix to improve efficiency and sufficiency.
Despite several reforms and privatizations aimed at improving efficiency and reliability, the power sector continues to face numerous challenges, including inadequate infrastructure, transmission and distribution losses, and insufficient generation and distribution capacities. The transition from the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was initially met with optimism but also skepticism, leading to the phrase “Problem Has Changed Names”.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, lamented that the poor performance of the power sector has left about half of Nigeria’s population without electricity. He highlighted the need for a collaborative effort to reform and revitalize the power sector, noting that Nigeria generates approximately 4,500 MW for a population exceeding 200 million.
The President of the Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria (CIPEN), Engr. Israel Abraham, stressed that power is central to every index of development and a robust economy. He added that the ultimate goal of the international power exhibition and conference is to provide a platform for major players in the global power sector to discuss solutions for Nigeria’s power challenges.
The NASS’s support for power sector reforms and the call for collaboration among stakeholders underscore the urgency of addressing the frequent grid collapses and improving the reliability of the national power grid.
