ADEQUATE POWER SUPPLY: HOW MANY MEGAWATTS OF ELECTRICITY DOES NIGERIA NEED?

The epileptic power supply in Nigeria is no longer news as residents and business owners in the country complain endlessly about it. It seems like the Power Generation (GENCO’s), Power Distribution (DISCO’s) and Transmission companies are not able to meet with the high demand for electricity despite their efforts.

In a recent stakeholders forum, with the theme, “Estimated billings, Inability to Provide Pre-Paid Meters, Non Compliance with National Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC) Regulations and Erratic Power Supply in Ogun State by Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company and Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company,” organized by the Ogun State House of Assembly, the Executive Director, Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors, (ANED) Sunday Oduntan remarked that the country would require to generate, at least, 180,000 megawatts of electricity to ensure stable and adequate power supply. He also noted that power generation in the country is too low, adding that unless the Federal Government steps up efforts at ensuring the generation of more megawatts to meet up with the needs of Nigerians every other effort would amount to an exercise in futility.

While we commend the government for steadily putting in work to increase power generation capacity, we also know that the present capacity is a far cry from what is actually needed.

So, the question is: will the power problem in Nigeria be fixed? If yes, then, how long will this take? …

Excerpts from www.thisdaylive.com