By Anthony Isaac
Stakeholders have expressed concern over the poor state of energy supply in the country and have called on the Federal Government to act fast to strengthen the sector.
The call was made at the First Abuja Technical Forum of the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics (NAEE) with theme: ‘Making electricity for all a reality in Nigeria’ on Tuesday in Abuja.
NAEE an affiliate of International Association for Energy Economics.
In her speech at the event, President of NAEE, Prof. Yinka Omorogbe lamented that Nigeria suffers from a terrible energy situation which has affected every facet of the society.
She said the world is worried about energy which is the reason for Sustainable Development Goal 7, ensuring affordable energy for all.
The President said the forum would examine issues in the sector, give stakeholders opportunity to share ideas, look at the challenges, seek possible solutions and the way forward to ensure electricity is available to all Nigerians.
“The meeting seeks to positively impact energy sector in Nigeria which is currently not in a good situation so as to be able to provide electricity for every Nigerian. We want to make sure that whatsoever we discuss is going to be made available to the policy makers.
“We need to really move forward in this area and this is what we’ll be discussing today, making electricity available for all from the poorest Nigerian who is in the inaccessible area to the richest Nigerian”, She added.
The Chairman of the event, the Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company PLC (NDPHC), Mr. Chiedu Ugbo stated that energy crisis has been a major issue with different administrations
battling to proffer solutions since 1999 (20 years).
He recalled that the average installed capacity in terms of electricity was 5,800 megawatts as of 1999, and out of the installed capacity only 2,300 were available for utilization.
Ugbo stressed need for the Federal Government and stakeholders to invest more into the system for a proper cleaning up of the system so as to implement the SDG 7: ensuring electricity for all.
The High Commissioner of India in Nigeria, Mr. Abhay Thakur in his address identified insufficient funding as bane of energy sector in Nigeria.
He said his country was able to deal with the challenges through the enactment of proactive laws and policy to break through the various challenges.
He then recommended that stakeholders implement a very transparent guideline between consumers and service providers, provide essential commodities such as solar bulbs, as they are extremely important in achieving SDGs 7: ensuring electricity for all.
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