Adelabu Reveals Government Plan to Focus On Metering and Power Distribution

The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, said that the federal government has pushed its short-term focus to the power sector to prioritize metering, electricity distribution, and transmission to enhance power supply nationwide.

The Ministry of Power disclosed this on Tuesday during the 3rd Roundtable on Enforcement of Technical Standards, Regulations, and Mandate of the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency.

Chief Adelabu discussed the upcoming power sector strategy roadmap, emphasizing a bottom-up approach to strengthen impact over the previous top-down strategies.

He said, 

• We will focus on customers, down to distribution and transmission infrastructures, in the short term, ensuring a significant portion of currently generated power reaches consumers.

He also said that maximum attention will be given to the generation segment of the sector, particularly distributed power from renewable energy sources, while concurrently advancing baseload power through thermal and hydroelectric plants in the medium to long term.

The minister emphasized regional energy potentials, citing solar energy in the North, small hydropower plants in the Middle Belt, and South-West, hybridized with solar for maximum output.

Coastal cities were identified for wind energy utilization, as Adelabu explained that these strategies would be revealed after a forthcoming retreat with electricity value chain stakeholders.

He admonished NEMSA to adopt the decentralization of the sector with State government involvement under the new Electricity Act of 2023.

He assured NEMSA of the federal government's support, acknowledging the increased responsibilities at both federal and state levels.

Speaking of the devolution of power to states under the Electricity Act 2023, Adelabu highlighted NEMSA's role as the lead enforcer of regulatory and technical standards.

He also asked for collaboration in achieving the government's regular and sustainable power supply goal.

Tukur Aliyu, the Chief Executive Officer of NEMSA, highlighted the agency's responsibilities under the Electricity Act 2023, which included the endorsement of technical standards and regulations, inspection, testing, and certification of electricity installations and instruments.

The Minister finished by asking for collaboration with the National Council on Power to develop the integrated National Electricity Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan to submit to the Federal Executive Council (FEC).