Power Sector Reform : FG Assures Energy Transition Council Of Political Will

The Federal Government has reassured the Energy Transition Council, a subset of the United Nations that it has the political will to drive and sustain the ongoing drastic reforms in the power sector. 

The Honourable Minister of State, Power, Goddy Jedy Agba, OFR and leader of the federal government team gave the assurances while presenting the keynote address at the Council's Country Dialoque conference held virtually on Thursday. 

Agba, who said that the country was experiencing a turning point in the power sector averred that the government is committed to exploring ways of localizing sustainable energy value chains in Nigeria while giving priority to technology transfer and capacity building. 

He assured that contrary to the narratives that government lacks the political will to implement reforms in the sector, the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has shown clearly that it has both the execution capacity and will to effect changes that will translate to access to improved power supply. 

Explaining the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), the Minister said that it is "a comprehensive programme targeted at the grid, transmission, distribution and grid communications projects that will modernize the grid and unlucky 25GW of stable operable capacity over the next five years" 

He who added that the Buhari's administration do not only have plans but is committed to undertaking the necessary reforms that will make the power market very attractive and competitive for investors maintained that government's investment in alternative energy is not only aimed at providing improved power supply but to create direct and indirect jobs for teeming Nigerian youths. 

In his words, "I am saying all of this to show that we are prioritizing private investments and committed to create an environment that allows the private sector to invest and achieve commercial returns, while the government will focus on implementing plans and reforms that accelerate the pace of electrification and economic growth.

While reiterating the government's commitment to welcome technical support from partners, he added that "we recognize the need to have a broader energy transmission roadmap that is based on data to align efforts across the energy and other heavily emitting sectors onto a path for achieving SDG7 by 2030 and net-zero by 2050. I will like to thank the Energy Transition Council for helping us secure support to develop Nigeria's own energy transition plan". 

Also speaking, the Special Adviser to the President on Infrastructure, Ahmad Rufai Zakari said that the current administration has invested in so many areas like  gas supplies, hydro and solar power to stimulate reforms in the power sector. 

He noted that the #PowerNaija initiative which is a scheme aimed at providing access to clean, affordable and sustainable power to six million homes 

is a catalyst for power transformation in the country. 

He assured that the country is working to improve power generation to at least, 7,000MW before the end of the fourth quarter of this year.

In his remarks, the youthful engergic Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Rural Electrification Agency, Engr. Ahmad Salihijo said that apart from government's massive investment in the solar energy sector, there's an ongoing research into biomass energy solution as an alternative source of energy. 

He added that the government has identified renewable and alternative energy sources as solution to power problems in the country. 

Responding, the Deputy High Commissioner, United Kingdom, Ben Llewellyn-Jones thanked the Minister for showing direction and putting the conference together.

He commended the federal government for the many initiatives towards power reform in the country while pledging the United Kingdom's continued backing to drive the process.