The federal government’s planned rural electrification project tagged ‘Operation Light Up Rural Nigeria’, which was unveiled by former President Goodluck Jonathan in January 2014 got stalled, because many Nigerians especially those living in the rural areas believe that electricity is a form of charity to be doled out by government, THISDAY has gathered.
Speaking during an inter-ministerial committee on government’s renewable energy action plan, with members drawn from all Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), to dialogue for fresh framework on Sustainable Energy 4 All (SE4ALL), in collaboration with international agencies, in Abuja, the Director for Renewable and Rural Power Access Department, Ministry of Power, Mr. Abayomi Adebisi, said investors will be willing to invest in the power sector, only if their return on investment is guaranteed.
He said: “In January 2014, former President Goodluck Jonathan launched the Operation light Up Rural Nigeria. We couldn’t go further because we still feel that energy is charity ‘government don give us light’; but somebody has to pay for the light.”
He said the ministry is tired of power points, adding that it is now time to move to power plants, harnessing other power sources like renewable energy. According to him, if other smaller countries are getting right, why not Nigeria, adding: “We have all the sunlight heating us everywhere. Germany which relies so much on solar has little or no sunlight; here we have an average of 8 hours sunlight every day.”
Adebisi, averred that electricity when generated has to be paid for. He said: “It is not like water that we can dig or store in a tank and come and fetch when you like. It is real time because as you are generating it is being used and that is why every planning on this SE4ALL by 2030 must be done well so that we get it right.”
“There are investors who can put their money but the fear is the return on investment. And that is why investors cannot come into the power sector and until they know how they are going to recoup their money; then they will rush in just like what happened to the telecoms sector.”
The Director said the renewable power sector is set to witness a boom with the framework that is being put in place, which he said is receiving government buy-in.
“What we are doing is getting away from the normal based charity electricity distribution so that investors can come in and invest. After the Durumi flag-off another project was developed in Bwari at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) whereby they were metered and they know that the money will be used in maintaining the infrastructure.
“We are working on something that is sustainable and so we have developed a model which we called Renewable Energy Mini-grid Utility (REMU). Somebody can stay here in Abuja and recharge his meter in his village. This concept is ready for launch. The investors are interested in this model and funding has been stalling it.
The controlled metering unit system is therefore temper proof and it will help Nigeria access the much needed power.”
Speaking on the sideline, the acting CEO of the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, Mr. Gregory Iyogun said: “On the role of NEPAD in fast tracking the framework, NEPAD is a coordinator of all the agencies, instead of people going in different groups, it is able to bring all the stakeholders together and the focus is for Nigerians to be better off.
“Like in the rural areas we are interested in their welfare so we believe that when we get it right in the energy sector, it will be right with the country that is essentially NEPAD’s objective to reduce poverty and promote economic development of Nigeria,” Iyogun added.
