Decentralisation of power generation policy will improve electricity supply – NERC

Dr Sam Amadi,
Chairman and CEO, NERC

Decentralisation of power generation policy will improve electricity supply – NERC

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) said that the decentralisation of electricity generation policy would fast track stable power supply in the country.

The Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NERC, Dr Sam Amadi, stated this in Abakaliki, Ebonyi state Southern Nigeria, on Monday while briefing reporters on the roadmap set by the Nigerian government to attain steady power supply in the shortest time.

According to him, the time frame set by the Nigerian Government to attain a steady power supply can further be abridged if there is a decentralised policy as well as integrated power generation mechanism.

He explained that a new process of power generation and distribution had been introduced by the present administration.

The new process

The new process involves the building of small grids or power stations and dams by individuals and states for the purpose of supplying electricity to a particular state or area. 

This is different from the conventional practise where a grid system allows power generated in any part of the country to be channelled to one source, the national grid, from where it would be distributed to the states.

Building capacity

Amadi expressed regret that Ivo Local Government of Ebonyi State was not connected to the national grid saying, “it shows the extent of malfunction and lack of capacity for expansion in the power sector before now”.

He also noted that the nation was presently building the capacity and the network to carry the capacity.

He assured Nigerians that the various Independent Power Projects in the country would soon be commissioned and added to the national grid to increase its capacity.

In his words, “the Nigeria Government is also strengthening the gas supply infrastructure to the power stations as well as the transmission networks to enable it receive the power being generated”.

NAN/Waziri/Williams