Stories By Chris Ochayi

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, has tasked the Chinese companies to fill in the gap created by the weak transmission system to boost Nigeria’s capacity to wheel generated power to end users.

Nebo, who spoke during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, in Abuja, said the move is to strengthen transmission capacity in the Nigerian electricity value chain

The Minister reiterated the critical role of transmission, saying that it is needless if generated power cannot be used, hence it is important to strengthen the engine that would ensure that the chain is not broken.

While calling for more foreign investment, the Minister identified the Chinese as special people that have the capacity to identify opportunities, “little wonder that China is doing so well with us in the sector,” he added.

According to him, we will continue to support and defend your interests and investments here and further requested the Chinese to do even more in terms of investing in the sector, adding that there are a lot of opportunities in the area of renewable.

Nebo also urged the Chinese to build synergy with the distribution and generation companies, as they could build mutual relationship in the area of embedded power within a locality and get such distributed through the Disco in the area.

He commended Mr. President for the doggedness and determination to push the electricity agenda to this level through its privatisation programme, and enthused that without that political will, the whole process could have been derailed.

According to the Minister, “even the opposition has expressed this position at different fora, as the Nigerian power privatisation remained irreversible. The gap is huge and Government is deeply committed in making sure we get it right in power. The Independent Power Producers should be able to produce, while on our side, we should ensure that power gets to the people.”

However, he noted that the statistics of power in Nigeria is abysmally low. “Nigeria is producing only 2.5% of what power is being produced in South Africa; those who are wise are taking position and falling over each other to partake in the sector.”

Nebo commended the level of confidence the Chinese have in the sector, saying that encouraging funding has come from EXIM Bank into the sector, especially since the high-powered delegation led by Mr. President’s visit to China in 2013.