US hails Nigeria’s power sector

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID)/Power Africa delegation has hailed the Nigerian privatization programme as part of the inspiration behind creation of Power Africa initiative by the United States. The delegation, led by the Abuja Director for USAID, Sharon Pauling, made this known on a visit to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).  The acting deputy coordinator of the initiative, Agnes Daswicz, explained that the Power Africa was an agency under USAID with the goal of leveraging partnerships to increase access to power in Sub-Saharan Africa.

She said the delegation had canvassed views from various private and public bodies that had invested in the power industry but would seek a deeper public sector perspective on the power sector challenges ahead, which the Commission was uniquely situated to provide. She commended the Commission on its efforts in the power industry so far.  Responding, chairman of the Commission, Dr. Sam Amadi, outlined a few immediate and long-term challenges facing the sector. He said these challenges include, financing to facilitate further improvement especially with regards to the distributions companies (DISCOS). He also said one of the inhibiting factors to the efforts of providing electricity include the current low-rate of gas supply and vandalism of gas pipes.

“Quick improvement in the industry is necessary to sustain the political will behind the power project,” he said. Also commenting, the commissioner for engineering, standards and safety, Engr. Mary Eniola Awolokun, said there was considerable portion of the

Nigerian populace that currently receive electricity without paying proper tariffs due to the lack of widespread metering. She however, said  the Commission was taking adequate steps to address this.