16 February 2016, Abuja — The House of Representatives said Nigeria would require up to 160, 000 megawatts, MW, to meet national demand as the world standard puts 1000MW as a benchmark to satisfy the needs of one million citizens.
The Chairman, Adhoc Committee on Tariff, Hon. Babajimi Benson, told Vanguard that the country’s 5000MW generation is grossly inadequate.
His words: “Going by global statistics and standards to the derivations of electricity supply, the rule of power in the world is that, for every one million people there should be 1000 megawatts.
“And the population of Nigeria is over 160 milllion, and we are celebrating about 5000megawatt. So, we ought to have 160,000 megawatts.” He argued that the power sector should be a gold mine, but currently undergoing some challenges.
“There is a gap currently in the sector.” Electricity tariff On electricity tariff, Benson, posited that relevant stakeholders in the sector have fought against the tariff.
“Stakeholders in the power sector have embraced the tariff increment, but the consumers are at the complaining end.”
He recalled that the House had asked all stakeholders of their positions on the tariff. “We have asked all stakeholders, including owners of the Distribution Companies, DISCos; Nigerian Electricity Consumers Advocacy Network, NECAN, and the regulators to present their positions on the issues which they did.
“However, NERC only submitted their response a couple of days to the 1st of February new tariff date. The House had expressed displeasure on that because we assumed they were treating us with levity. We have analysed all the documents. But presently, the House is working tirelessly to see that the budget is passed.
“We don’t want anybody to suffer, we want Nigeria to grow. Our job is to find a middle ground for everybody. Either by way of enlightenment or speak to the Discos to see reasons,” he explained.
- Vanguard