The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has urged the Federal Government to find a permanent solution to the energy problem to accelerate the nation’s industrial growth.

MAN’s President, Chief Kolawole Jamodu, made the call at the 24th Annual General Meeting of Edo/Delta branch of the association last week in Aladja, near Warri in Delta.

Jamodu, represented by Dr. Joseph Ihedika, said that the present erratic power supply was inimical to the nation’s progress as manufacturers rely on alternative source of energy to remain afloat.

He said with the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) supplying below 35 per cent of the country’s energy needs, there were fears over Nigeria’s ability to realise Vision 20:2020 in spite of its great economic potential.

According to him, these fears are premised on the observation that the energy crisis is worsening rather than improving.

Jamodu maintained that adequate and steady supply of energy was indispensable to any country’s industrial growth.

He said that Nigeria’s energy generation capacity vis-à-vis its large population when compared with countries like U.S., China, Britain and South Africa, might make Vision 20: 2020 a mere wishful thinking.

Citing some countries as an example, Jamodu said that U.S. with a population of 300 million has installed electricity generation capacity of 900,000 megawatts (MW) and UK with a population of 57 million has installed capacity of 74,000MW.

He added that South Africa with some 40 million people has installed electricity generation capacity of 42,000MW while Nigeria only generated a paltry 5,482MW.

“Yet, whereas Nigeria’s ‘Peak Demand” stands at between 25,000MW and 45,000MW, the peak demand for the U.S., China, UK and South Africa is far less than their installed energy generation capacity,” Jamodu said.

Speaking earlier, the Edo/Delta MAN Chairman, Dr. Austin Asimonye, decried the poor operating environment for manufacturers in the zone.

Asimonye said that the plight of the manufacturers was worsened by poor energy base and “multiple-taxation” by the various levels of government.

He called for pragmatic and sustained efforts to permanently solve the problems of inadequate electricity supply to the industrial sector and multiple-taxation by all tiers of government.