Experts urge Buhari to address power problem

The incoming government of President-elect Muhammadu Buhari has been called upon to address the issue of poor power supply in the country.

At the recently held Lagos Business School’s Centre for Infrastructure, Policy, Regulation and Advancement and the Heinrich Boll Foundation’s forum on Nigeria’s energy future, various experts said much needed to be done to get the power and energy sector out of the doldrums.

According to Dr. Ijeoma Nwagwu of the CIPRA, little or no discussions have been held on how to permanently solve the energy problem in the country.

Nwagwu noted that detailed concepts and policies for the required increase in electricity supply had hardly been discussed in public, even during the recent election campaigns.

She added, “If it is to make gains on its commitment to create jobs, address insecurity and corruption in Nigeria, the new government must deal with the reality that 80 per cent of Nigerians lack stable power supply and two-thirds of Africans, mainly in the rural areas, live without electricity.

“This time of transition is the perfect opportunity for renewed, hopeful and strategic focus on energy poverty in Nigeria.”

The keynote speaker and climate expert, Hans Verolme, in his keynote address, emphasised the role of energy as being the potential backbone of Nigeria’s economic, social and environmental development.

Verolme stated that the country needed to work on its carbon dioxide emission reductions and its energy options. He identified hydro and gas as having the highest potential to ensure clean, reliable and affordable energy for Nigeria.

Also speaking at the forum, the HBF Director, K. Christine, said it was vital for the country to carefully consider its options because any decision reached by the government would likely have far-reaching effects.

“Most Nigerian experts favour an expansion of the national grid, fed by power from fossil fuels such as oil and gas. Given that the infrastructural choices takentoday will lock Nigeria onto a certain energy pathway for the next 30 to 50 years, a wider discussion of the implications of these infrastructural choices is necessary,” Christine said.