…as NEC moves to end National Grid collapse
By Lawrence Mpama
In the last few weeks, the nation has been thrown into total darkness due to the collapse of the country’s national electricity power grid, and to stem the tide of the frequent national embarrassment, the National Economic Council (NEC) has resolved to reinforce the implementation of the National Electrification Strategy with a committee to be headed by the governor of Cross River State Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu.
The Vice President Kashim Shettima, who is the Chairman of NEC, told members of the Council that access to energy is a fundamental right and not a privilege because electricity is the oxygen of economic growth. Accordingly, the Council has constituted a committee on National Electrification to help address the challenges in the power sector.
The formation of the committee was among the decisions taken by NEC at the end of its 146th meeting on Thursday, chaired by Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The committee, headed by Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu, is to work towards deepening states’ engagements within the Electricity Reform Act 2023 and the National Electrification Strategy and Implementation Plan.
Following a presentation by the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA), the National Economic Council observed that Nigeria needs a reformed and diversified electricity system, noting that by empowering states, accessibility and affordability of electricity can be enabled, ensuring that all regions effectively meet their specific energy needs.
Members of the committee include Governors Dikko Radda of Katsina, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Ademola Adeleke of Osun, Hope Uzodimma of Imo, and Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau.
Others are the Ministers of Finance, Mr. Wale Edun; Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu; Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu; Special Adviser to the President on NEC and Climate Change; Special Adviser to the President on Power; Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency (REA); and Managing Director of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company.
Earlier in his address, Vice President Shettima maintained that access to energy is a fundamental right and not a privilege because electricity is the oxygen of economic growth.
He outlined issues before the Council that require urgent attention, including energy infrastructure, human capital development, creative industries, fiscal strategy, industrial innovation, and long-term development planning, describing them as foundational to the transformation Nigeria needs.
Lawrence Mpama is the Publisher and Managing Editor of Cross Atlantic Newspapers, former Editor of Watchman Magazine
