Former Minister of Power, Barth Nnaji, has alleged the involvement of certain groups in sabotaging efforts to ensure consistent power supply in Nigeria, including diesel and petrol suppliers and generator dealers.
During a radio program titled “The South East Political Roundtable” on Flo FM in Umuahia, Mr. Nnaji expressed his concerns about the repeated breakdowns of the national power grid. This persists despite the Federal Government’s claim of investing N7 trillion in the power sector, even after privatizing the electricity generation and distribution segments in 2013.
Mr. Nnaji, who is also the chairperson of Geometric Power, Aba, identified diesel suppliers and generator dealers as factors that hinder those involved in power generation. He noted that Nigeria’s high power demand has led to a substantial generator market, and businesses in this sector fear that stable electricity would impact their profits negatively.
Mr. Nnaji further alleged that the power sector, like others, is influenced by a group of individuals making gains from the issues of poor power supply. He cited an incident where individuals cut a 30KVA power line to disrupt electricity supply, with the operation allegedly sponsored by a diesel supplying company. One of the individuals involved was accidentally electrocuted and later confessed to the crime.Nigeria has grappled with inadequate power supply for many years, costing businesses an estimated $29 billion annually, according to the World Bank.
The country has one of the lowest access rates to electricity globally, with around 92 million people out of a population of 200 million lacking access to power.This scarcity of power has driven businesses to use expensive diesel generators as an alternative source of electricity, increasing production costs.
Despite past claims of reduced dependency on generators, Nigerians continue to be affected by the repercussions of insufficient power supply, as the energy sector in Nigeria faces significant challenges that require substantial investments.
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