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accountability energy

NEPA was unbundled into 18 semi-autonomous this will go a long way in saving electricity and
companies that included one transmission ensuring steady power delivery in the country. Citizens also should stop vandalizing
company, six generation companies and 11 How best have you tried to incorporate energy electricity infrastructure and
distribution companies. Then, the government saving practices into your daily life? Do you kidnapping foreign professionals.
established the National Electricity Regulatory make use of energy saving lamps? Remember
Commission (NERC), which commenced those days you leave your air conditioning
operations in October 2005, to oversee and set on and go to work? In our offices, do we There is need for the government to build
pass various regulations to direct the industry practice these measures and even in building new power plants to increase the existing
and prepare the rules for public/private sector design? generation capacity. The government can also
participation. look into the deployment and development of
The power company was then divided into renewable energy technologies in the country
a number of companies based on function: Citizens also should stop vandalizing as a means of diversifying the energy mix and
generation, transmission and distribution. This electricity infrastructure and improving power production.
involved 17 private generation and distribution kidnapping foreign professionals. Also, the transmission and distribution (T&D)
plants sold to institutional investors, and the lines need to be upgraded, as this will help
government took control of the transmission in reducing losses in T&D. Currently about 40
aspect. It is, however, worthy to note that the We cannot deny the fact that the bombings percent of generated electricity is lost in T&D.
government did that with a good intention of of gas pipelines has created real setbacks in There is also a need for periodic maintenance
ensuring steady power supply in the country. the electricity industry, and the kidnapping of power plants. Presently, most of the
The power-reformation process assigned of foreign professionals has also forced away power plants in Nigeria have broken down
roles for all direct stakeholders. The federal foreigners from investing in our power sector. or are partially operational due to lack of
government will be in charge of policy Some citizens even vandalize transmission maintenance.
formation, monitoring and evaluation of lines and steal some of the equipment used for On the consumer side, all power consumers
implementation and performance, while the power distribution. It’s really worrisome, and should be metered so that they can pay for
NERC will license private operators and provide therefore, it is good for the citizens to play their what they actually consume and the funds
technical and economic regulations. In spite of own roles first before blaming the government. generated by the government through this can
all these reforms, Nigeria is still in power crisis. The Way Forward be used in improving the power infrastructures
Citizens in the country. Citizens should also stop
In Nigeria, there are technological problems, sabotaging the government, and in this regard,
Someone will ask, “Is power generation not the policy issues, which are solely the responsibility assist the government in protecting critical
sole responsibility of the government, and do of government, and the concerns from the power infrastructures against vandals. Finally,
the Nigerian citizens also have a role to play in citizens. What is the way forward? Ensuring corruption must be rooted out in the power
ensuring steady power supply?” steady power supply in Nigeria should involve sector if any of the above recommendations
The answer is yes. It is the duty of the citizens to a collective effort by citizens and government. would be implemented.
practice energy efficiency and conservation, as

AFRICAN POWER Mining & Oil Review Vol 21, Issue 20, 2017 | 25