Experts in the power distribution sector have advocated multi-sectoral collaborations to transform the nation’s electricity issues and solve other economy challenges.
They made the recommendations on Thursday at the Nigerian British Chamber of Commerce, NBCC, May breakfast meeting with the theme : “Transforming Nigeria through multisectoral collaboration” at the Chambers Headquarters in Lekki Lagos.
The Managing Director of Eko Electricity Distribution company, Dr Tinuade Sanda who noted that though the Country currently has eleven thousand installed power generation capacity, barely four thousand of generated power is being distributed, emphasised that finance to overhaul decaying infrastructure as well as creation of new gas fields would boost power distribution.
Dr Sanda stressed that government should look towards more public private partnership collaborations to turn the sector around.
“Power is the bedrock for any manufacturing organisation and as it stands, Nigeria distributes about 4,000 mw of electricity even though it has the capacity to generate up to 11,000 but for some challenges. This creates room for collaboration and we must bring innovation together alongside government agencies not working at cross purposes with one another to give the non oil sector the boost it requires from power generation. I sincerely belive that collaborations will bring sustainability into any sector, attract the required investments, create job opportunities and when government comes with incentives to boost collaborations it help boost the economy” she said.
Buttressing this, the Chief Execitive Officer of Geregu Power, Akin Akinfemiwa,
said government and private sector operators must work together to harness the potentials of the sector and solve challenges of power generation, infrastructure, transmission and distribution, rather than working in silos.
He urged the NBCC to leverage its position and act as an umpire to create a framework for accountability and assign roles for all stakeholders to drive the collaborations.
“We must also use technology to help drive the collaborations between industries, stakeholders and government as the improvement in power through multi-sectoral collaboration can only be driven by technology. Power is core to economic development because for every one per cent increase in power, we have four per cent improvement in GDP. Technology should therefore be used to decentralise the grip and ensure that power gets to those that need the power to transform the nation’s economy,” he said.
Using his own organisation as an example, Mr Oluwayomi Amoussa, Head Corporate Affairs, Alaro City, noted that the dynamics of operations in the Lagos Free Trade Zone reinforced the importance of multi-sectoral collaboration.
He said “These collaborations must however be rooted in ingenuity and value engineering, prioritisation and planning, education and discipline for critical thinking outside the box.”
Declaring the session open on behalf of the NBCC President, Bisi Adeyemi, the Deputy President, Ray Atelly explained that the meeting was part of the Chamber’s efforts toward the development of the country, with an assurance that the Chamber would continually serve as a distinguished platform for stakeholders to exchange ideas to advance business development in Nigeria.
“The NBCC breakfast meeting has always been a path to progress as it fosters collaboration across sectors. We believe we can forge a better path for our nation and people when we come together and collaborate and share quality thought and ideas,”