Energy Market Specialist Adetunji Adeyeye has said that the country’s electricity woes cannot be resolved in just two weeks, asserting that decades of inadequate expansion and maintenance of the national grid have culminated in a critical lack of infrastructure.
In the face of ongoing power outages, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has announced that repairs to a damaged transmission line responsible for widespread blackouts in northern Nigeria will be completed by Sunday, 3 November 2024.
During an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday, Adeyeye emphasised that the current power challenges stem from systemic failures within the power sector.
“Everybody should be blamed,” he stated, critiquing the reactionary approach taken by stakeholders rather than adopting proactive measures.
The Energy Market Specialist pointed out that the national grid has suffered from inadequate expansion and rehabilitation programmes, leading to a critical lack of infrastructure.
He lamented the neglect of the TCN’s Transmission, Rehabilitation and Expansion Programme, a comprehensive document detailing a technical roadmap for fixing the grid.
“We’ve not necessarily prioritised our needs in terms of repositioning our power sector,” he said, underscoring the importance of collaboration to urgently address the problems at hand.
When asked about the major issues plaguing the sector, Adeyeye replied, “These problems can’t be fixed in two weeks. Those are political statements.”
He stressed that understanding the root causes of the outages is crucial, noting that the current infrastructure has been poorly maintained and is in a dilapidated state. “What we need to do is to probably do the band-aid treatment,” he added, highlighting that long-term solutions would require continuous investment, expansion, and robust policies to combat energy theft.
As the TCN works to transmit 400 megawatts of electricity to certain areas within the next 24 hours, Adeyeye shared insights on quick fixes that could alleviate the immediate power crisis. He agreed with the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, on the necessity of decentralising the grid to provide alternative pathways for energy transportation and distribution.
He also noted past efforts by TCN to construct a new transmission line along the Kaduna-Jos axis, which is now complete and awaiting installation of receiving and sending bays.
“Those are quick fixes,” he asserted, suggesting that the timely installation of these facilities could relieve pressure on the northern grid.
Turning to the recently enacted Electricity Act of 2023, Adeyeye expressed skepticism about its effectiveness in the immediate term. He pointed out that states must first localise the act within their legislation, a process that involves significant investment and structural changes.
He remarked that the solution is not the “silver bullet” as many believe, suggesting instead that attention should be directed towards overhauling the national grid to foster substantial improvements.
Frances Ibiefo
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