The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to supporting ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s power sector. He emphasized the need for greater collaboration among all stakeholders to enhance the reliability of the national power grid.Â
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the International Power Engineering Exhibition and Conference in Abuja, Dr. Abbas also advocated for the integration of renewable energy into the country’s energy mix to boost both efficiency and self-sufficiency in power generation. The theme of the conference was *”Birthing an Effective Electric Power Sector of the 21st Century: The Role of Professional Practice Regulation.”*Â
Represented by Rep. August Gana, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Power, the Speaker acknowledged the progress made in the sector over the years, including reforms and privatizations aimed at improving efficiency and reliability. However, he highlighted that challenges persist, such as inadequate infrastructure, transmission and distribution losses, and insufficient generation and distribution capacity.Â
He noted that while the transition from the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was met with both optimism and skepticism, it has nevertheless paved the way for private sector involvement and investment. He said, “This shift has created opportunities for greater participation and investment, allowing us to redefine the future of power in Nigeria.”Â
Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, also spoke at the event, expressing concern over the poor performance of the power sector, which has left nearly half of the Nigerian population without reliable electricity.Â
He said, “Nigeria’s power sector faces many challenges, including frequent grid collapses, inadequate generation capacity, inefficient transmission and distribution networks, and regulatory obstacles. Our country currently generates only about 4,500 MW for a population of over 200 million, leaving half of our citizens without access to reliable electricity.”Â
Abaribe also pointed out that despite Nigeria’s vast energy resources, the nation continues to struggle with power generation and distribution. He stressed the need for a unified approach to address these challenges and reform the sector.Â
Earlier, Engr. Israel Abraham, President of the Chartered Institute of Power Engineers of Nigeria (CIPEN), emphasized that access to reliable power is critical for national development. He stated, “Power is central to every index of development and a robust economy. As the world moves forward with new ideas on how to manage available power more efficiently, these issues will continue to remain relevant.”Â
He added that the ultimate goal of the exhibition and conference was to create a unique platform for global power sector players to collaborate and share ideas, with a special focus on Nigeria’s power challenges.
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