To address power shortage in Nigeria, a group of energy economists has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to constitute an Energy council to tackle the menace.
The energy economists under the aegis of the Nigerian Association for Energy Economics (NAEE) also proposed that the council should be made up of experienced and reliable energy professionals and operators in the country that will proffer workable solutions to the country’s energy sector. According to the group, the Council will advise the federal government on the potential of energy supply sources and how best they could be utilized.
It further said that the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) should have undertaken the task, but has been unable to carry out that function hence the call for an energy council. Speaking at a recent briefing in Abuja, the president of NAEE, Prof. Wumi Iledare, stated that countries like the United States and others have the Council, and it has helped them to research and implement policies on shale oil exploration.
“The president needs an energy council; competent energy professionals to look at the energy supply mix for Nigeria just like you have in some other places.
“The reason today why you see the shale gas developments in the US is because of the Potential Natural Gas Committee that existed for many year, and I said this when Buhari came to power, that there is an energy council that is moribund and should be revamped,” said Iledare.