The Federal Government’s short-term priority in the power sector is to prioritize metering, electricity distribution, and transmission to improve power supply nationwide, according to the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu.
The Punch reported that according to a statement from the Ministry of Power on Tuesday, he made this revelation during the 3rd Roundtable on Enforcement of Technical Standards, Regulations, and Mandate of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency.
Adelabu emphasized the bottom-up approach to prioritizing impact over the previous top-down strategies in his presentation of the upcoming power sector strategy roadmap.
“In the short term, we will focus on customers, down to distribution and transmission infrastructures, ensuring a significant portion of currently generated power reaches consumers,” the minister was quoted as saying.
Additionally, he said that focus will be given to the sector’s generation segment specifically in distributed power (embedded) from renewable energy sources, while baseload power through thermal and hydro plants would be advanced in the medium to long term.
In his speech on regional energy potentials, the minister mentioned small hydropower plants in the middle belt and southwest that are hybridized with solar energy for optimal output, as well as solar energy in the north.
Adelabu stated that the strategies for using wind energy would be made public following a retreat with stakeholders in the electricity value chain, and coastal cities were singled out for this purpose.
In light of state governments’ participation in the sector due to the new Electricity Act of 2023, he urged NEMSA to adjust to the sector’s decentralization.
He acknowledged the increased responsibilities at the federal and state levels while assuring NEMSA of the support of the federal government.
Adelabu pointed out the importance of NEMSA’s role as the primary enforcer of technical and regulatory standards while highlighting the devolution of powers to states through the Electricity Act 2023.
NEMSA’s Chief Executive Officer, Tukur Aliyu, described the organization’s duties under the Electricity Act 2023, which include approving technical guidelines and standards as well as inspecting, testing, and certifying electrical installations and equipment.
In closing, the minister committed to working with the National Council on Power to create an integrated National Electricity Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan that would be presented to the Federal Executive Council.
