Delegates at the ongoing national conference yesterday called for the total ban on importation of generators into the country as a precursor measure to improve the power sector, which has been moribund for a long time.
The delegates made the call during the deliberation on the report of the Standing Committee on Energy at plenary yesterday. They argued that continued importation of generators is a bane on the country’s quest to improve power generation, distribution and stabilization.
Delegate Chris Abongabe stressed the need for Nigeria to divest its energy drive to include coal.
He also asked the conference to select delegates to visit Ghana and South Africa on fact-finding missions in order to underscore the challenges of energy in Nigeria.
However, Barrister Abubakar queried the line difference between the distribution and generation companies in the power sector, alleging that the distribution companies are only in existent to make money. He further alleged that in less than two years, the distribution companies have increased electricity tariff twice.
He therefore argued that the distribution and generating companies should be fused into one, so as to ensure electricity supply stability.
For his part, Moses Mbali representing Adamawa State, asked government to compel licensed oil bloc owners to begin immediate exploration of the wells to enhance overall economic benefit for the country.
Former minister of power and steel, Bashir Dalhatu revealed that part of the problems of electricity supply in the country is the refusal of consumers to pay electricity bills. He also noted that the public must be educated on the need to regulate electricity consumption for equitable usage by consumers.
He also said that the committee should have been bolder in recommending community policing in the protection of energy installations.
King Alfred Diete-Spiff from Bayelsa State said that part of the fines incurred by oil companies over gas flaring should be going to the host communities which are the first victims of the act.
Senator Anthony Adefuye however took another dimension in his argument as he posited that Nigerians should be encouraged to install solar panels to help improve the country’s power generation.
He lamented that the committee did not include the issue of solar energy in its recommendations.
On the other hand, Adebayo Oladimeji proposed that energy should be moved to the concurrent list to enable states in the country to be involved in energy supply.
Speaking in the same vein, a delegate from the South-West, Olawale Osun, said that putting power generation in the concurrent list would help develop the country’s energy sector.
Source: Leadership
