Abba Hamisu Sani
Africa-Press – Nigeria. For decades power shortage remains the most challenging factor towards the Nigerian economic revival. Billions of dollars have been invested for the sector to be alive but yet to yield positive results. As a result of this majority of Nigerians lost hope of having permanent and stable electricity.
It is a known fact that no matter how Nigerian leaders strive to attract investors and push for development is unachievable without electricity as the main driver.
Learning from Countries like Tanzania Egypt, and Algeria is the best solution for the Nigeria’s lingering epileptic power generation.
Emulating these African countries will help in achieving the required electricity for Nigeria’s Industries and other sectors of the economy crippled due to power shortage
Learning from Tanzania is the best option
The recent report about Tanzanian action of shutting down plants due to excess Supply to its national grid was shocking to many Nigerians.
Nigerians were surprised as how a country like Tanzania could boost of over power generation.
Authorities in Tanzania have shut down five hydroelectric stations in a bid to reduce excess electricity in their national grid.
The country’s Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said that the main plant, Mwalimu Nyerere Hydroelectric Station alone generated enough electricity to power major cities ,including Dar es Salaam,the country’s commercial hub.
It is the first time Tanzania ,which suffers chronic power shortages,has closed hydroelectric stations due to excess production.
“We have turned off all these stations because the demand is low and the electricity production is too much ,we have no allocation now”an official from the state run power company Tanesco said.
The 2,115 MW Julius Nyerere Hydropower Dam is said to almost filled with water following heavy rains that started early this year.
Meanwhile ,the country has an installed capacity of 1,938 Megga Watt and the installed capacity of 1,899 MW.
Nigeria is struggling to provide power to its 85 percent of Consumers
As Tanzania has morethan enough power for its citizens. Nigeria with an installed capacity of 13,000MW is still struggling to electrify 85 per cent of its electricity consumers.
Nigerian Electricity Regulatory (NERC) has recently announced a hike in the tariff of 15 percent of highbrow electricity users.
The users who enjoy 20 to 24: hours of electricity supply are prioritised by Electric Distribution Companies,leaving the remaining 85 percent in darkness.
New electricity Tariff and the National Assembly move to halt the decision.
On Tuesday 30th of April 2024 the Lower chamber of the Nigerian National Assembly has ordered the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to suspend the operation of the recently announced tariff increase.
The House of representative also called for the suspension of other conditions in the newly issued review of the Multi-Year Tariff Order.
It set up a special committee made up of the committee’s on power ,Commerce ,Delegated Legislation and National planning to organise a well -structured hearing on the price regulation of the Nigerian Electricity supply Industry (NESI).
The hearing would be with the participation of the minister of power , chairman and Commissioners of NERC ,the chief executive of all electricity unities in Nigeria ,President of the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) as well as leaders of Chambers of commerce.
The House resolved to appoint a well-regarded former regulator as a technical consultant to develop templates for determination of the legality reasonableness of the procedure adopted by NERC in approving the tariff increase and establishing the performance benchmarks for the Discos’s”
It is also resolved to authorize the consultant to work with the special committee to craft a bill to provide for administrative procedures that entrench proper consultation and legislative review of the process for tariff setting in the electricity and other public services in Nigeria.
These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent importance moved by Honourable Nkemkanma Kama.
Kama said the legislative motion on increase in electricity tariff seeks to address key issues surrounding the sudden hike in electricity prices in Nigeria.
“It highlights concerns over due process, fairness, and the impact on consumers. The motion aims to restore public trust, protect consumer rights, and ensure regulatory accountability in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
The facts presented include the alarming tariff increase announced by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) on April 1,2023, resulting in a staggering 300%rise for certain consumers.
The House also called for the suspension of other conditions in the newly issued review of the Multi-Year Tariff Order.
The House set up the committee of stakeholders
The House of representative set up a special committee made up of the committees on power, Commerce, Delegated Legislation, and National Planning to organize a well-structured hearing on the price regulation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).
Kama said the legislative motion on increase in electricity tariff seeks to address key issues surrounding the sudden hike in electricity prices in Nigeria.
“It highlights concerns over due process, fairness, and the impact on consumers. The motion aims to restore public trust, protect consumer rights, and ensure regulatory accountability in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI)” The legislature said.
Meanwhile, during a hearing at the Senate Committee on Power the Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu, defended the tariff hike by stating that the Federal Government could no longer afford to provide subsidies on power.
He said for the sector to be revived, the government needs to spend about $10 billion annually in the next 10 years.
“This is because of the infrastructure requirement for the stability of the sector, but the government cannot afford that,” the minister said.
Adelabu has stated that the electricity sector is attracting more investors due to the increase in electricity tariff for Band A customers.
To end this piece is to ask Nigerians to put more pressure on both Federal and the state governments to intensify effort in generating more electricity through learning from Tanzania a country that suffered power shortage previously but overcome it through dedication and commitment.
To be frank major percentage of the funds earmarked for various electricity projects ended up in private pockets through corruption which remains the major challenge to the positive development of Nigeria in all aspects.
Another issue that baffled Nigerians is the recent increase in the electricity tariff which sounds like the present government under Tinubu is insensitive to the citizens’ plight as they can no longer afford fuel, food, and now electricity.
There is a need for the Tinubu’s administration to rethink over its policies before pushing Nigerians to the wall.
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