The setbacks in the Nigerian power industry is not uncommon knowledge. From power generation to distribution, challenges such as gas supply constraint, poor infrastructure, power theft, and liquidity problems continue to deter the country’s economic growth.
In recent times, power generation has been on a dip (having a capacity of about 3000MW), resulting in load shedding by distribution companies around the country.
While citizens complain about the electricity access in the country and how their businesses and general livelihood have suffered due to the lack of reliable and sufficient power, the country’s government intends to sell its excess electricity generated to its West African neighbours.
One could analyse this move by the government from several angles. While there is the question of what electricity is generated in excess given the current power generation setbacks?
The second angle stems from the next statement made by the Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN). According to him, the power to be sold is that which is not needed in the country. Has the supply of electricity exceeded its demand, resulting in electric power not needed in the country?
The third aspect of this new deal to sell excess electricity was the agreement that the generators to be used in this scheme would be reserved specifically for the sole purpose of transmitting power to neighbouring countries. Does this mean the power sector has enough funds to construct new transmission network while there are faulty transmission infrastructure networks?
Indeed, there are several unanswered questions in the Nigerian power industry.