In a landmark event aimed at reshaping the narrative of Nigeria’s power sector, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, provided an in-depth overview of the administration’s approach to revitalizing the nation’s electricity landscape during the 3rd edition Workshop of the Power Correspondent Association of Nigeria (PICAN) in Abuja on November 30, 2023.
Under the theme “Resolving Nigeria’s Power Crisis: The Implication of the Electricity Act 2023,” Minister Adelabu elucidated on the strategic significance of the recently enacted Electricity Act, outlining key policies that signify a paradigm shift in addressing the country’s power challenges.
Adelabu highlighted the Integrated National Electricity Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan, currently in collaboration with the National Council on Power (NCP). The minister emphasized the administration’s commitment to a transparent and consultative decision-making process, ensuring the involvement of key stakeholders in the development of policies that would drive the sector’s transformation.
A notable departure from traditional approaches, the minister underscored a bottom-up strategy with a specific focus on Metering, Distribution, and Transmission infrastructure. Immediate attention was directed towards addressing critical issues such as power theft, vandalism, and educating consumers on responsible power consumption.
In a bid to diversify the energy mix, Adelabu detailed plans for the development of distributed power sources, with a significant emphasis on renewable energy. The minister outlined regional strategies, including the harnessing of solar energy in the North, mini-hydropower plants in the Middle Belt and Southwest, and wind energy in coastal states.
Adelabu’s address conveyed the administration’s commitment to empowering states, organizations, and individuals to actively participate in electricity-related activities, ushering in a new era of innovation and competition. The Electricity Act 2023 represents a monumental step in liberalizing electricity generation, transmission, and distribution.
The minister assured Nigerians of imminent improvements in power supply, attributing these enhancements directly to the proactive measures outlined in the Electricity Act 2023. He emphasized the critical role of customer payments in maintaining financial liquidity in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) and called for media involvement in curbing power theft and vandalism.
As Minister Adelabu’s detailed presentation unfolds, it signifies a strategic and proactive approach by the government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to tackle the longstanding challenges in Nigeria’s power sector, bringing forth a new dawn of reliability and efficiency.
