‘Nigeria to get regular power supply before 2016’

The federal government has been intensifying efforts towards steady supply of gas so that the county can have regular power supply before 2016, chairman, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi, has said.

Speaking with journalists in Minna, Niger State yesterday, he said with the political will of the present administration, in no distance future, Nigerians will not be talking about inadequate power supply.

He said his commission recently issued licences to independent private power plant operators for generation of over 20,000 megawatts of power within the next three years, adding that if the country is able to generate 12,000 megawatts, there will be regular power supply.

“Life has taught us that nothing is impossible. We can generate 30,000 megawatts within the next one year if we want. Already, we have issued licences to investors to generate over 20,000 megawatts before 2016. I am sure that with all the efforts put in place, our power generation will surely surpass our target by 2016. The sector has been without frame work; no cost related terms and inconsistency in policy have been the order of the sector, but it is now being regulated. This has built confidence in investors which in turn will boost the sector and our national generation level,” he added.

Amadi said NERC has started unlocking the power sector by embedding generation regulation that allow DISCOs to establish small modular power generating plants of between 10 and 20 megawatts and supply same within its territory without recourse to the national grid.

On the contentious monthly service charge levied on electricity consumers by various DISCOs, the NERC boss said the commission has directed that no payment should be made if electricity is not been supplied for two weeks and above.