The former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, has alleged fuel suppliers and generator contractors are sabotaging efforts to ensure that Nigerians have consistent access to Electricity.
Nnaji stated this during the South East Political Roundtable on Flo FM in Umuahia, Abia State. Added that the persistent failure of the national grid remained a major source of concern for Nigerians.
Nnaji, the Chairman of Geometric Power in Aba, said that diesel suppliers and generator distributors pose significant challenges for individuals involved in the power generation industry.
He said, “There are two areas when you talk of the cabal in the sector, the diesel suppliers and generator users. Nigeria is a big user of generators because of our enormous power needs and those who are in the business would not want any interruption. The diesel suppliers feel that a stable power supply would destroy their business.”
According to a 2021 World Bank assessment, “74% of power customers in the nation are dissatisfied with the availability of electricity nationwide, while 78% of electricity consumers nationwide had access to less than 12 hours of daily power, 93% of metered power users paid their bills on time.”
Meanwhile, Dangote Group intends to generate electricity at the Numan Refinery and provide it to the national grid to increase energy output and help the national economy. While, Ghana is also planning electricity export to Nigeria as part of its plans to expand energy access.
Also, the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), in collaboration with key stakeholders in the industry to finalize a new agreement on subsiding power. Stakeholders insist that a subsidy in the sector will translate to a reduction in tariffs for electricity users and improve electricity supply across the country.
