By Kunle SHONUGA
Experts in the energy sector have urged entrepreneurs to explore alternative energy sources to boost operations of their small and medium scale enterprises (SMEs).
An engineer with Nexgen Energy and Allied Services Limited, Mr Ayokunle Adenigba, an engineer with Nexgen Energy and Allied Services Limited, said in Ibadan on Tuesday that alternative energy sources would provide solution to the persistent energy crisis in the country.
“Power constitutes 40 per cent of the production cost for SMEs and the government has been trying to solve the various challenges in the power sector.
“But if people are well enlightened, there would be solution to the power issue in Nigeria as technologically, we have advantage now with solar energy and others unlike before,’’ he said.
Taiwo Oriowo, a member of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) representing Zartech Limited, said power remains the backbone of every business in Nigeria.
“If the Minster of Power can help us to generate adequate megawatts of electricity for at least 18 hours a day for SMEs and big industries, there would be many job opportunities for people in Nigeria.
“If we look at it, an average of about 75 per cent of our people are not working with the government. They are on their own and I can say that more than 50 per cent of them depend on power to work.
“If we continue like this, there would be more poverty and crime would persist, but if you and I are busy doing something, nobody will think of evil,’’ he said.
He stressed the need to strengthen institutions while promoting the use of technology and alternative power sources to boost productivity.
