Nigeria’s Power Sector Must Work For It’s Citizens.

Nigeria’s power sector has almost become a sector in permanent state of inefficiency largely due to inability of government to provide the much needed stability to drive growth and development in the nation’s electricity supply value chain.

Though several reforms have been initiated in the time past, regrettably, these reforms have failed to hit the end goal of ensuring that citizens enjoy uninterrupted power supply .

The privatisation of power assests for instance initiated in 2013 which targets a private sector driven initiative within the distribution and generation value chain, has turned out more ineffective, when compared to days when government solely controlled the space.

The Nigerian electricity regulatory commission on the other hand had in recent times implemented policies to enhance tarrif structures, promote competition, with the establishment of regulations to support off-grid and renewable energy solutions, as valid as these steps are, complains on the part of citizens have also trailed some of these policies, given the direct and indirect impact of the mentioned policies of government. For instance, the adoption of zero subsidy policy by the federal government on tarrif for band A consumers as sparked criticisms from some stakeholders who have expressed concern over the failure of distribution companies to effectively the deliver on the required number of hours of uninterrupted power supply for this category of consumers, amidst huge electricity bills, a development stakeholders say is not commensurate to the huge electricity bill burden on consumers.

Though signifant investments have been made to upgrade transmission infrastructure, with projects aimed at increasing capacity and reducing losses, energy theft and other challenges which include lack of well equipped manpower and other factors have continued to impede growth in the sector. Ongoing efforts by the federal government to diversify energy sources in Nigeria has also led to the promotion of renewable energy projects, including solar and wind, under such initiatives like the solar home systems program, however, and beyond the renewable energy advocacy by the government, the country still continue to rely heavily on fuel as the main energy source at a time the world is already setting achievable and workable targets to fully diversify from reliance on fuel.

The challenges in the power sector have driven several citizens deeper into the poverty net, as many small scale business have closed shop in the last one year due to inability to readily access affordable power cost, institutions of higher learning, (university of Ibadan, and university of Lagos for instance ) only recently cried out over the instutions inability to pay for it’s power needs due to the huge bills which has gone beyond their capacities, one of the key drivers of national development in any country, largely depends on the development of it’s power sector, reason why, countries that have advanced today are nation’s with efficient energy policies in the areas of power, renewable energy, oil and gas amongst other energy space.

With the latest data on poverty rate standing between (40-43)%, translating to roughly 80million people living below the national poverty line due factors largely influenced by economic instability, unemployment, has once again made it imperative for government to urgently begin processes to find sustainable ways of addressing the key challenges that have stalled growth in the nation’s power sector, and to this extent, government must ensure continued reforms which is considered crucial to attracting both domestic and foreign investments, while also insisting that government must also work to sustain public-private partnerships in order to advance infrstracture development in the sector. Addressing transmission issues remain critical for the future of Nigeria’s power sector, just as strong political will is also required on the part of government to drive incentives for renewable energy and improved tarrif structures as critical tool for the sector’s growth.

The country must also work towards advancement in energy storage, smart grids, and energy efficiency technologies to optimise power supply across board and reduce wastage .

Overall, if these factors are effectively addressed, Nigeria’s Power sector could see significant improvements, driving economic growth and enhancing the quality of life of citizens in the future, it is hoped that government and other critical stakeholders in the value chain will work on these recommendations to the country’s power sector to the next level