As part of efforts to grow the country’s economy and develop its industries, the Ministry of Power will collaborate with the Nigerian Society of Engineers.
The Minister, Chief Adebayo Adelabu stated this while addressing a delegation of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) led by the President, Engineer Tasiu Sa’ad Gidari-Wudil, to the Ministry.
He emphasized the need to give the power sector appropriate focus and attention, stressing that there is no transformed economy throughout the world that did not put power as a priority.
He stated that one of the major crises Nigeria experiences is not being able to produce what is consumed thereby being dependent on other parts of the world as a consuming economy.
“A large percentage of what we consume as a nation is imported and any country desirous of transformation should eschew such a scenario.”
While charging the NSE to throw its weight into the power sector in order to achieve its desired goal, the Minister said that one of the major challenges the country has in moving forward stems from the inability to synergize.
“Nigeria needs an abundance of power supply and the challenge doesn’t lie on any other institution other than the Nigerian Society of Engineers,” Adelabu said.
He stated that factors like leadership, commitment, focus, and passion, are instrumental to achieving the desired success in the power sector, while gaps in mobility, infrastructure, and inability to build roads and proper railways despite funding from developmental partners remain challenging.
Speaking further, the Minister said that as part of Mr. President’s committed plan of changing the lives of Nigerians, implementation of the local content in government contracts has become imperative.
“As a protagonist of local content, there must be recognition of the local meter manufacturers in Nigeria to encourage development and sustainability”.
He revealed that the consumers are the revenue determinants thus transmission and distribution capacity should be in excess as power generated and does not get to the doorstep of the consumers is a fruitless effort.
“Nigeria is a nation with a population of over 220 million, generating only 4000 megawatts, this calls for adequate collaboration as new confidence is being reposed on this new administration for sustainable and adequate power supply.
“There have been a series of Bilateral Stakeholders consultations prior to a planned town hall meeting of all stakeholders in which the NSE will be majorly involved”, he explained.
Earlier, the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Engineer Gidari-Wudil said that the Society will put all expertise and operational arsenal at its disposal to help the Ministry achieve its Mandate.
