By Thompson ABISOLA
The Executive Director of Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), Sunday Oduntan, said adequate power generation and distribution will continue to elude the country unless there is accurate population census.
Oduntan made this known on Wednesday in Abeokuta at a stakeholders’ forum organised by the OgunState House of Assembly.He equally absolved Distribution Companies (DisCos) of blame for the epileptic power supply in the country.
Oduntan said the country must generate at least 180,000 megawatts of electricity to ensure stable and adequate power supply.He said power generation was too low, adding that the Federal Government must step up efforts at ensuring more megawatts were generated to satisfy the power needs of Nigerians.
According to Oduntan, South Africa with a population of 67 million is currently generating 48,000 megawatts against the 39,000 megawatts the country needs.
Oduntan who decried Nigeria’s failure to generate at least 20,000 megawatts, however, praised the MuhammaduBuhari administration for increasing power generation to 5,150 megawatts, the highest in the country since 1980.
“Nigeria has no credible population census and you cannot distribute power without accurate census.Nigeria needs about 180, 000 megawatts for there to be adequate power supply, 5,150 megawatts was the maximum we generated since 1980.Let us be sincere with ourselves, to generate power is expensive,” he said.
On meter distribution to consumers, Oduntan said a 4.1 million meter gap had been identified.He said N295 billion would be needed by DisCos to provide three-phase prepaid and postpaid meters at the rate of N73,000 per unit.
In her submission, Executive Secretary, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), OgunState Chapter, Mrs.MotunrayoElegberun, said manufacturers would not succeed without electricity.“IBEDC should stop the incessant increment in bills given to people. We want them to assist us.
“Some of us are now using gas, some use diesel. By the time a manufacturer produces at high cost, it will surely sell at high cost which is not too good for our economy,” she said.
Earlier in his address, the Speaker of the House, MrSurajAdekunbi, explained that the forum was organised to give opportunity to various stakeholders to air their views on electricity supply.
Adekunbi said the input of all stakeholders was needed to ensure that power consumers enjoy commensurate service.
The forum was attended by civil society organisations, electricity consumers as well as representatives of the state government.
