*Richard Montgomery, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, urges the power industry stakeholders to explore new opportunities to scale up electricity delivery to 90 million unreached consumers by connecting the dots between the current power system said to be ‘world鈥檚 largest absolute electricity deficit’ and ‘inclusive growth’

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

As the country yet struggles to attain sustainable power generation, transmission and distribution system聽 for corporate and individual consumers, Mr. Richard Montgomery, British High Commissioner to Nigeria, at a stakeholders’ forum Wednesday, October 25, 2023, in Abuja, FCT, declared that Nigeria鈥檚 prosperity depends on getting the electricity sector of the economy right.

Montgomery stated this at a two-day roundtable on the Electricity Act 2023 with the theme: 鈥淚mplications and Opportunities for State Electricity Markets”.

Mr. Richard Montgomery, British High Commissioner to Nigeria聽 聽 聽Photo: NAN

The Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) organised the event, which was funded by UK鈥檚 Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and implemented by the United Kingdom Nigeria Infrastructural Advisory Facility, agency report said.

The UK envoy, represented at the roundtable by the Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms. Gill Atkinson, urged Nigeria to find ways to connect the dots between the power sector and inclusive growth by ensuring electricity delivery to 90 million consumers in the economy.

He also stressed “this is the time to explore new opportunities to scale up electricity delivery to more Nigerians homes, businesses and organisations.

Montgomery further noted: “We need to give primacy to ways to promote expanded renewable integration, both on and off-grid.

“Nigeria gave fantastic commitments to COP26 and to the future of its power sector.

“This forum will help Nigeria to deliver those commitments.”

绿帽献妻 reports the COP 26 was the 26th United Nations (UN) climate change conference held from October 31 to November 13, 2021, in Glasgow, United Kingdom (UK).

The British High Commissioner said: “We also need to find ways to connect the dots between the power sector and inclusive growth. Nigeria鈥檚 prosperity depends on getting the power sector right.”

Power deficit affecting 90 million Nigerian consumers, hurting economy, says Montgomery

The British envoy as well disclosed the current deficit in the power sector is affecting about 90 million Nigerians and the country鈥檚 economy, as he聽 advised citizens to work with the new government to address the challenge.

He stated: “We have a new government here. It has embarked on important macroeconomic reforms. The exchange rate and the fuel subsidy are bringing short-term pain to the country and to the people of the country.

鈥淭hese are positive changes in the medium to long term that will help Nigeria to fulfil its potential for the future.”

Montgomery further explained “part of this, and a particularly important moment, is the Nigeria鈥檚 power sector.

“Unfortunately, the country has the world鈥檚 largest absolute electricity deficit.

鈥淭his affects 90 million people. Even those Nigerians who are connected to the grid face frequent outages and do not get reliable supply.”

Montgomery asserted that Nigeria must understand and acknowledge the impacts of the power supply problems, both on the people of Nigeria and on the country’s economy.

鈥淲hat we are gathered here to do is to work on the credible reform process needed to resolve both the regulatory and the policy changes that are necessary.

鈥淲e need to work together to make sure these are addressed in an integrated manner.

鈥淭he Electricity Act, passed in June of this year, is an important component of the current reforms,鈥欌�� he said.

Forum to promote subnational electricity programme for diversified electricity markets: Kwara Governor

Earlier, Chairman of the NGF, Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, had said the forum was promoting subnational electricity programme to facilitate the development of sustainable, competitive and diversified electricity markets.

AbdulRazaq said that the forum believed that the action would deepen the electricity market in Nigeria in a competitive way.

The Kwara State Governor also asserted: “We believe in partnership and getting divergent views on how to achieve the same goal.

“This is why this roundtable is so important and we look forward to reboot engagement in this important event.

鈥淚 hope we will leave here enriched to see how we can implement the Electricity Act and interface with existing structures.”

NGF to unveil Nigeria Sub-National Electricity Markets Support Programme -Director General

Speaking at the power forum, Mr. Asishana Okauru, Director-General of NGF, said growth in the electricity sector would inevitably catalyse economic development in Nigeria, and impact positively all other sectors of the economy.

Okauru submitted that the amended Electricity Act 2023 represented a significant milestone to achieving a stable, reliable, and efficient electricity supply for the people.

The NGF Chief noted that the Act also provided a legal framework for private sector participation in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity.

He described the roundtable as the first in a series of talks and activities that would jumpstart the development and growth of the electricity sector in the country.

Okauru as well stated: “We are often told that the amendment of the Constitution and the signing of the Electricity Act 2023 open the sub national electricity market.

鈥淭o stakeholders and players in the industry, this makes perfect sense, but to laymen and perhaps to a majority of the populace, this is mere jargon.”

The Director-General of the Forum noted: “Our task, therefore, is to facilitate the simplification of this very complex and highly technical endeavour in a way that the government and the governed will fully appreciate.

鈥淲e have held and continue to hold talks with development partners and international donor organisations that have shown remarkable interest in supporting our efforts in ensuring the success of this initiative.”

According to him, the NGF has planned to unveil a support effort that will address the Nigeria Sub-National Electricity Markets Support Programme.

Okauru disclosed this is going to be a flagship project of the NGF, and it will be designed to facilitate the development of sustainable, competitive and diversified sub-national electricity markets in the country.”

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