National Assembly Pledges Support for Reforms to Strengthen Nigeria's National Grid

Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has expressed the National Assembly's commitment to supporting reforms in Nigeria's power sector and emphasized the importance of collaboration among stakeholders to enhance the national power grid's reliability.

Speaking at the opening of the International Power Engineering Exhibition and Conference in Abuja, Dr. Abbas advocated for incorporating renewable energy into Nigeria's energy mix to boost efficiency and sustainability.

The conference, themed “Birthing an Effective Electric Power Sector of the 21st Century: The Role of Professional Practice Regulation,” addressed ongoing power sector challenges.

Represented by Rep. August Gana, Deputy Chairman of the House Committee on Power, Dr. Abbas observed that, despite various reforms and privatization efforts, the sector still faces significant obstacles, including outdated infrastructure and transmission and distribution issues.

Reflecting on the transition from the National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), he noted: “The transition…while marked with optimism, was also met with skepticism, leading to the comical phrase ‘Problem Has Changed Names.’ Yet, despite these challenges, we have seen remarkable progress, especially through the privatization of the sector with succession generation companies (GenCos) and distribution companies (DisCos).

This shift has opened the door to more participants and anticipated investment, allowing us to redefine the future of power in Nigeria.”

Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, also addressed the sector's struggles, noting that inadequate performance has left around half of Nigeria’s population without reliable electricity.

He highlighted persistent challenges like frequent grid collapses and inadequate infrastructure, stating, “Currently, our nation generates approximately 4,500 MW for a population exceeding 200 million, leaving about half of our citizens without reliable electricity access.” Despite Nigeria's vast energy potential, these difficulties underscore the urgent need for cooperative efforts to reform the power sector.