Expert Lists Measures For Effective Power Sector Reform

As the clamour for effective reforms in the Nigeria’s Power Sector continues among stakeholders, an expert, Engr Isaac Adekanya, has listed measures for shoring up the polity for enhanced service delivery.
Adekanya, who spoke with The Tide in an exclusive interview in Port Harcourt, last weekend, said the power sector should be liberalised for more players to be engaged in competition for better service delivery.
Adekanya, who is a fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Electrical Engineers, said part of the challenges faced in the Nigeria power sector was as a result of the gap in generation, transmission and distribution of power.
He pointed out that the maximum capacity of 6,800 megawatts generated in the country, at the moment, as announced by the Minister of Works, Power and Housing,  Babatunde Fashola was not totally transmitted and distributed to the end users as a result of the operational gap.
While commending government efforts in the diversification of the power sector, the renowned technocrat, called for the generation of more power and improvement in its transmission and distribution.
Adekanya, who is the chairman of the Port Harcourt branch of the Nigeria Institute of Electrical Engineers, however picked hole in formation of the Distribution Companies (DISCO).
He noted that the DISCOS were given out for economic reasons, as the operations are more concerned about economic gains than service delivery.
According to him, the end result is the increase in the price of electricity while a service is low.
He disclosed that the involvement of technocrats in the DISCOS would enhance proficiency in service delivery, as the desired technical knowhow would be put in place to achieve set targets.
He further recommended that a cue should be borrowed from the Telecom Sector, which has been demonopolised and liberalized for better service system as a result of involvements of enough players and competition.
The expert who is also a fellow of the Nigeria Society of Engineers recommended that comparative advantage should be considered in electricity generation across the country.
He explained that the abundance of gas in the Niger Delta region makes it easier to generate power through gas, while the middle part of the country is more convenient for hydro power generation because of Rivers and the far North is more conducive for solar generation.
He averred that strategic investment in power generation base on the above economic model will optimize, capital, operation and running costs and address power needs of Nigerians.
Commenting on the role of Engineers in actualizing the Nigeria Content Development Policy, he said Nigerian Engineers had been at the forefront of the campaign for the domestication of the Nigeria Content Policy, “Nigerian Engineers has made tremendous contributions to the promotion of local content, we have misplaced the polity through regulations, advocacy in the National Assembly, we have always pointed out that Nigerians must be involved in every project from the conceptual, construction and design stages.  Every project has its peculiarity and Nigerians know the terrain better and how to handle specific projects, for instance what is obtainable in constructing a road in Bayelsa State is not the same in the Northern part of the country”.
Adekanya also called for change in the Nigeria value system, urging that people should consider service to society above personal gratification. He regretted that most job given to Nigerians are not delivered on specification as the money is often diverted for personal use.
He expressed hope over the prospect of development in the Nigeria power sector and called for synergy among the critical stakeholders.

Taneh Beemene