State governments must avail themselves of the incredible opportunity the new Electricity Act provides them.
EXCLUSIVE: Northern senators move against Akpabio over alleged N4trn budget paddingClimate change, extreme weather, conflict exacerbate global food crisisEXCLUSIVE: Northern senators move against Akpabio over alleged N4trn budget paddingClimate change, extreme weather, conflict exacerbate global food crisisState governments must avail themselves of the incredible opportunity the new Electricity Act provides them and at least offers the building blocks to electricity sufficiency and efficiency...
One area in which sub-nationals or states of the federation could take advantage of to show that a restructured Nigeria can be an oasis of development is electricity generation, transmission, and distribution. This is because of the multiplier effect of electricity on the quality of life, productivity, employment generation, and human development.
Despite these challenges, there is some silver lining in this dark cloud. Recently, I had a long engagement with the governor of Enugu State on the issue of power. Enugu State has taken the bull by the horns and not only enacted its policy and law, but it has already set up a regulatory body comprising experienced hands who have worked in NERC, DisCos, and industry consulting firms.
The inference from the preceding is that both political devolution and electricity devolution require political will and an enabling economic environment. An economically unviable state will remain a nightmare, as it cannot demand or pay for electricity. Industrial and commercial markets for power are prerequisites for investment in the power sector. Investors will only come if the electricity markets exist.
The current state of anaemic electricity supply in Nigeria, as experienced in the blackouts of the past few weeks, calls for a new approach. Nigeria’s blackout problem is not just a technical issue but a combination of human capacity challenges and systemic inefficiencies requiring urgent and comprehensive solutions. The flickering lights of Nigeria are a stark reminder of the urgent need for visionary leadership at the federal and state levels in the energy sector.
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