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NSE advocates state-led rural electrification to boost power supply (Page 778)

By Angela Atabo

The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has called for the full adoption of state-led rural electrification programmes to accelerate access to power and reduce heavy dependence on the federal grid.

The society made the call in Abuja at its 29th October Lecture with the theme: “Evaluating Nigeria’s Power Sector Reform 2005-2023: A Quantitative Analysis of Technical Performance and Regulatory Impact.”

Mr Tasiu Gidari-Wudil, former NSE President from 2022 to 2023, who spoke on the topic, said the 2023 Electricity Act opened new opportunities for states to take control of their electricity needs.

“I am advocating for state rural electrification programmes across all 36 states and the FCT, in addition to the Nigerian Electricity Commission.

“In the U.S. where I did all my regulatory trainings, every state has a public utilities commission, while the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is at the centre, managing all interstate businesses and large hydro plants.

“Beyond that, even small villages can form cooperatives to generate electricity for themselves with the resources they have. That is the model we should adopt.

“So, with the new law, we are moving towards that and people will be able to take their destiny into their hands in terms of power.

Gidari-Wudil described lack of electricity as one of the most critical infrastructure challenges facing the country and the wider Sub-Saharan Africa.

He noted that while reforms had delivered some progress, including private sector participation, expanded regulatory frameworks and increased installed capacity, Nigeria was still far from achieving reliable and affordable power.

He highlighted persistent systemic issues including political interference in tariff setting, inadequate infrastructure and financial unsustainability.

He said that power failures caused annual losses of about $50billion, hitting manufacturers hard and causing industries to rely on diesel generators, thereby reducing competitiveness.

He said that consumer satisfaction remained low, with over 50 per cent of Nigerians believing they had not benefited directly from reforms.

“Tariff reforms like the Service-Based Tariff have improved revenue but not necessarily service delivery, as monitoring remains weak,” he added.

Looking ahead, Gidari-Wudil stressed the need for context-specific solutions, adding that reform models should be adapted to local realities.

He called for strengthened regulatory capacity, financial sustainability with transparent subsidies and meaningful stakeholder engagement at community level.

He urged government and stakeholders to sustain commitment to electricity reforms, saying, “If we want electricity, we have to do the right thing.”

The Special Guest of Honour, Dr Kola Adesina, the Group Managing Director of Sahara Power Group, said private sector investment was crucial for the power sector.

He noted that, however, for the sector to thrive, policies must be consistent, contracts must be honoured and an enabling environment must be assured.

Adesina, represented by Godwin Emmanuel, Head of Generation, Sahara Power Group, said, “The reforms of yesterday must, therefore, evolve into the reforms of tomorrow.

“They must be reforms that inspire investor confidence, encourage technological adoption and ultimately serve the Nigerian people,” he said.

Adesina, therefore, said the task before stakeholders was to deepen and accelerate those reforms with technical precision, regulatory courage and unwavering political will.

“We will continue to invest, innovate and collaborate because we believe that Nigeria’s future is bright and that with collective effort, indeed, there will be light,” he stressed.

The NSE President and Chairman-in-Council, Mrs Margaret Oguntala, said the lecture’s topic resonated deeply with the ongoing national conversations around sustainable electricity supply, energy transition and power sector efficiency.

Oguntala said the October Lecture was instituted as a strategic platform for the NSE to articulate its position on critical national issues.

She said: “Most importantly, it is to showcase the knowledge, wisdom and the professional expertise of our revered past presidents, whose leadership and contributions continue to inspire generations of engineers.

“This gathering, therefore, brings together thought leaders, policy makers, industry experts and engineering professionals for impactful dialogue on issues that shape our national future.

“With over six decades of service to the nation, the NSE remains committed to promoting engineering excellence, upholding ethical standards and contributing meaningfully to nation building.” (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Christiana Fadare

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NSE advocates state-led rural electrification to boost power supply (Page 778)