Nnaji blames regulatory agencies for poor power supply

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A former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, has blamed perennial power supply in the country on inability of regulatory agencies to discharge their duties effectively.

The former minister stated while speaking at a session of Senate Ad hoc Committee on Power investing activities in the power sector on Wednesday in Abuja.

He regretted that in spite of huge investment in the sector over the years, Nigerians were yet to enjoy adequate power supply.

He said that about half of the power being generated was not getting to the consumers as a result of poor transmission.

“Out of the amount of power that is distributed to transmission companies, only about 50 percent of it gets to the consumers; it is an incredible inefficiency in the power system that must be cured,’’ he said.

In his remarks, President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, who was represented by his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu, said that epileptic power supply witnessed in the country over the years was a major challenge.

“You don’t have to be an economist to observe that if we do not improve on the availability and accessibility of adequate power to drive the economy, our developmental aspirations will continue to emaciate,” he said.

Saraki explained that it was in recognition of the pivotal role played by the power sector in aiding development that the senate decided to place enormous emphasis on the improvement of the sector.

He explained that the reason for the probe was because there was a cleavage between the public investment that had been made in the power sector and the returns Nigerians saw in the sector between 1999 and 2014.

He said: “The essence of this investigation is to see how best to revitalize the sector to make it more efficient and transparency-driven.

“It is hard to put in words, the level of frustration Nigerians have had to face with power, the impact of this on the wider economy and the level of inefficiency in the entire energy value chain.

“We have an opportunity now to right the wrongs of the past. It starts from our doing a thorough job of this assignment.

“ It is my belief that the committee’s work and final recommendation will be an invaluable tool towards providing the sector the right remedy we need to move it forward.

“Our goal here is not to witch-hunt; it is essentially a diagnostic review with the aim of repositioning the power sector to perform its role as a major primer of development.
“This administration has made the delivery of power and the revamping of the economy some of its cardinal objectives.”

Saraki said that vibrant power sector driven by efficiency and innovation, would impact positively on the Nigeria textile industry, rice mills, the manufacturing start-ups, assembly plants, manufacturing, and other businesses.

Source: The Nation