The Federal Government’s ambitions for improving electricity supplies are “not remotely realistic”, a report by experts advising the presidency says, an early blow to one of President Muhammadu Buhari’s most important reform promises.

According to Reuters, chronic power shortages are one of the biggest constraints to investment and growth in the economy.

Fixing the problem was one of the key battlegrounds during campaigning ahead of the presidential election Buhari won in March.

Former President Goodluck Jonathan had built a relatively successful $2.5bn partial privatisation in 2013.

The All Progressives Congress had pledged in its manifesto to increase power supplies from 3,600 megawatts currently to 20,000 MW within four years and 50,000 MW within 10 years, which would meet the demands of the nation’s 170 million people.

However, reaching 20,000MW by 2020 is “not even remotely realistic” and “setting unrealistic targets dilutes discipline”, according to a 54-page report entitled ‘The Energy Blueprint’ obtained by Reuters.

The spokesperson for the President, Mr. Femi Adesina, said he had not seen the report, which is being produced for the federal government by power industry experts.

He said the government’s energy policy was still being put together.

Asked whether the government would adopt the targets in the manifesto, Adesina said, “We need to wait until the policy on energy has been unfolded.”

The paper says Nigeria can produce 6,500MW by 2020, which would mean matching India’s supply growth of seven per cent.

This could rise to 8,500 MW if Nigeria could equal China’s 14 per cent electricity output growth.

Even these targets will require quick action on multiple reforms and billions of dollars of investment, it said.

Buhari has inherited a problem that has plagued the federal governments for decades and the promises he made for power improvements were more modest than his predecessor.

Despite holding the world’s seventh largest gas reserves, Nigeria produces less than a tenth of the amount of electricity South Africa provides for a population a third of the size.

Solving the problem would likely reduce business costs by up to 40 per cent and push growth in Africa’s biggest oil producer well into double-digits, experts say.

How long will it take for this nation to wake up to the fact that alternative energy is the only way to solve the power crisis. It's so frustrating seeing the nation going round and round in ever decreasing circles, when the answer to the problem is so obvious and straightforward.

Regards

Uvie

Hehehehe

Hmmmm
when there life, there is still hope.

But I've been having steady light dis days

gobizzy101:
But I've been having steady light dis days

It's the rainy season and power always improves at this time because the hydro electric dams operate at full capacity.

Don't be fooled, Nigeria is an extremely long way away from anything close to resembling 24 hours power a day. It's time to think about the alternatives, not continuing to pray for a miracle that simply cannot happen. It's about Science, not faith.

Regards

Uvie

impossibilities is in dictionary of foulssssss!!!!!!!

Barcholder:


It's the rainy season and power always improves at this time because the hydro electric dams operate at full capacity.

Don't be fooled, Nigeria is an extremely long way away from anything close to resembling 24 hours power a day. It's time to think about the alternatives, not continuing to pray for a miracle that simply cannot happen. It's about Science, not faith.

Regards

Uvie

chai, this is the first rainy season we are having since 1999

buzquet:
impossibilities is in dictionary of foulssssss!!!!!!!

Don't mind the so-called experts. these are people who want the FG to fail, but it won't happen.

gobizzy101:
But I've been having steady light dis days

Things that didn't work under previous administrations will work in this. That, you can be sure of.

dustmalik:

Don't mind the so-called experts. these are people who want the FG to fail, but it won't happen.

God bless u my friend. Wit Buhari, Nigeria will b a beta place to live

buzquet:
God bless u my friend. Wit Buhari, Nigeria will b a beta place to live

**Coughs violently**

am so sad when some people says its because of the raining season thats is the reason for improve power supply but i think we are witnessing the most improved power supply since over 6 to 16 years of democratic rule but in the middle of these years we have got both the raining and dry season...my point is that there is a little bit sincerety in the present policy..every one is afraid of loosing out..all sectors seems to be working including the dead efcc.. the gas company are doing their best to supply gas to gas stationa and gas turbine engines. the disco knows that underperformance means they will revoke their stake and ownership right..so there is little fear and sincerity in the system. the corupt people are been cautious in perpetrating the crime...

gradually we are getting there

its better to move foward by snail than to be backward using jet or metro bus

Naija People sef....How can u give credit to a man who never built a single Power plant, Lay pipeline to power those plants, or carry out any Reform in the Power sector in the past 1.5 month. ??..Many people think shouting "Sai whatever" or the fear of Pa Bubu will bring the power sector to work, forgeting that 80% of the power sector belong to private sector and the credit goes to GEJ....Michael Faraday go don laugh in his grave what has fear of Buhari got to do with building power infrastructure