Stakeholders Want Legislation For Power Enhancement

As power supply in the country continues to pose a major challenge in economic activities and other sectors, stakeholders have tasked governments at all levels on the need to have a legislative framework to boost power supply.
This was part of the points raised by stakeholders at the Power-To-Power Summit organised by the Port Harcourt Chambers of Commerce, Mines, Industry and Aggriculture (PHCCIMA) in Port Harcourt recently.
In his opening remark, the PHCCIMA President, Eze Mike Elechi, explained that the event was timely and its content deliberately planned.
Elechi noted that its need and relevance had become paramount in the life of the people, city, state, region and the entire country.
“We have carefully identified the need to examine the power situation in Nigeria and come to the conclusion not to sit, dwell, and complain about the well known problems, but to identify the solutions and at the same time, turn these solutions in to business opportunities”, he said.
The PHCCIMA President also identified solutions and opportunities as an underlying focus in many sessions, workshops and exhibitions.
Sir Elechi further revealed that the administration of PHCCIMA under his watch will take into consideration the practical and relevant business trends as it affects Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the state and region.
“Needless to say that power has been a fundamental challenge in productivity and services for the same SMEs in question.
“We expect that this gathering will be able to look into the following areas:
“Existing energy technologies that can be modified and made more user friendly for local application and maintenance.
“Local manufacture or assembly of relevant energy appliances and tools as a business.
“Exploration of alternative sources of power that are environmentally friendly and have a significantly reduced carbon footprint.
“Possible small and medium scale energy solutions that can be embedded to provide uninterrupted power to a circumscribed community, with it also being done as a business venture; and develop regulatory guidelines for government to consider”, he said.
According to him, such will make room for more private investment in the power sector and overall consumer Energy sector.
“Consequently, I hereby call upon government at the state and federal level to consider legislation and guidelines which allow for more entry in to the energy supply sector.
“Also, to improve the enabling operational environment that will encourage aggregation of existing players, to provide power to businesses and communities” , he said.
He, however, expressed hope that, if such legal framework is provided, “the economy will benefit tremendously from power improvement and growth, which will positively affect economic growth, GDP, productivity, employment. This will ultimately address the current security situation in the country.”

By: King Onunwor