Only 40% of Nigerians have access to electricity – Minister

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, has predicted that soon Nigerians would experience unprecedented revolution in the power sector, hence he challenged the private sector to take advantage by investing and taking positions in the ongoing privatization efforts of the government.
Speaking on Wednesday in his office when he received a trade delegation from the United States of America, led by Mimi Alemayehou, the Vice President of Overseas Private Investment Corporation, Nebo assured the delegation of “incredible opportunities for investment in power as contained in the Transformation Agenda of the administration, stressing that appropriate enabling environment would be provided for all genuine investors.”
Drawing from the growth experienced in the telecommunications sector, Nebo said that it took time for Nigerians to realize the enormous opportunities in telecommunications from the “humble beginning in 1999 of less than one million GSM lines, today over 100 million lines of GSM are active and in use.
“This development can only be said to be astronomical, unbelievable but real.”
He said it is therefore imperative for the private sector to consider investments not only in power generation but also in transmission, renewable energy and solar.
He said: “As at today, because of lack of power, a number of small and medium scales businesses have closed shops as they cannot break even with high cost of running generators and procuring diesels.
“Without power, our children born in the rural areas would be marginalized for life, as they would not have access to electricity and other modern technologies.”
Citing the proposed electronic examination by the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board by 2015, Nebo said the rural populace might be dis-enfranchised from taking the examination due to their inability to operate the computer, adding that more power would also be required for the conduct of the mandatory examination for admissions into all tertiary institutions in Nigeria.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Minister of State for Power, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi, said that 2013 is the target year set for the turnaround, while giving a pathetic picture of inadequate and low access to electricity.
Kuchi said that only 40 per cent of Nigerians have access to electricity, which is not even available for 24 hours.
She said: “We must deliver power to Nigerians.
“We must also be mindful of our growing population.
“So, we must explore solar, hydro, wind and other renewable energy options.
“Investors are therefore encourage to invest.”
While urging investors to come and take advantage, Kuchi said government would ensure all its programmes and projects, including Independent Power Project, are on course.
Speaking earlier, the representative of Symbion, Patrick Omeke, said that his company has a robust local content policy of training their workforce, to enable them take over the management of the plants after completion of the project.
Omeke assured the ministry of the readiness of his company to help Nigeria bridge power shortage within the shortest possible time.