…. PARTICIPANTS URGED TO TACKLE TWO CRITICAL CHALLENGES FACING THE SECTOR
The third National Council on Power (NACOP) kicked-off in Jos, Plateau State capital, Monday 18th of September 2017, with the theme COMPLETING POWER SECTOR REFORMS.
The Council which began with the technical session was chaired by the Permanent Secretary, Power, Louis Edozien, who said the focus of NACOP 2017 is to assess the progress, reaffirm commitments, examine the challenges of the moment and take decisions to overcome them to ensure the sector achieves the desired outcome.
In his welcome address, he enumerated two critical challenges of the sector at the moment as how to deliver available power on the grid to all consumers and the problem of debts, and related issues of collection and tariffs. He then urged the participants to come up with practical solutions to the challenges facing the sector.
Edozien disclosed that Nigerian electricity industry is in the middle of a transition from a vertically integrated, government owned monopoly to a regulated industry propelled and operated largely by the private sector.
He further stated that Nigeria reaffirmed its commitments in 2005 with the passage of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act which established its legal foundation and that the present administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has further reaffirmed its commitment to make this transition work with the approval of the Power Sector Reform Programme, a set of policy interventions to reset the industry on a path of financial viability.
The Permanent Secretary commended the governor and government of Plateau State for their firm commitment to host this Council safely. He also commiserated with the government and people of the State on the loss of lives and properties and congratulated them for restoring peace, tranquility and togetherness that Jos town has always been known for.
Etore Thomas
DD Press
