The decentralisation of the transmission grid will allow for multi-sectoral collaboration and provide accessible power at a low cost, Akin Akinfemiwa, managing director at Geregu Power, has said.
Akinfemiwa stated this at the recent Nigerian-British Chamber of Commerce (NBCC) breakfast meeting themed ‘Transforming Nigeria through Multisectoral Collaboration’.
“The transmission grid should be decentralised into six geopolitical zones with each electricity generating and distribution company a part owner of the region’s zonal geopolitical grid,” he said.
He said it gives a clear definition of ownership, who is responsible for what, how to get things done, and ensuring principal actors provide an effective and efficient network to provide that accessible power and uninterrupted power.
“Decentralization makes it easier for us to focus on multi-sectoral collaboration,” he said.
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As of October 2022, the national grid had collapsed 98 times under the regime of President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to a document on Power Generation Trend (2013 – August 2022), power generation capacity was 6,616.28 megawatts in 2015, it dropped to 5,634.47 megawatts as of August 2022.
Joy Ogaji, executive secretary of the Association of Power Generation Companies, blamed the intermittent national grid in the country on excessively volatile loads mostly through steel mills and the weak Transmission Company of Nigeria’s infrastructure, most of which are over 25 years old.
The GenCos also cited the instability and unavailability of most transmission lines as contributing to the grid collapse, which usually plunges the country into darkness.
Tinuade Sanda, managing director and CEO at Eko Electricity Distribution Company, said there are several opportunities for multi-sectoral collaboration in Nigeria.
“There’s quite a lot of multisectoral collaboration in Nigeria, such as in agriculture and technology, education and industry, health and tech, renewable energy and finance, financial services, and fintech,” she said.
According to her, the collaboration between the health sector and technology has improved telemedicine, allowed proper profiling of patients, and improved access to health care.
Oluwayomi Amusa, head of corporate affairs for Alara City, added that SMEs are not left out of the multisectoral collaboration.
“SMEs can enjoy multisectoral collaboration by leveraging regulatory frameworks to support them, providing public technology as it is one of the biggest levelers for anyone,” he said.
