Nigeria’s Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has emphasized the need for strong collaboration between the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN) and the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to enhance local production of electricity components. During a meeting with the ECN management in Abuja, Adelabu noted that local production of electricity equipment would reduce importation and conserve foreign exchange, aligning with President Bola Tinubu’s vision for the power sector.
The Minister challenged the two agencies to form a partnership focused on research, data collection, and planning. He stressed that President Tinubu’s goal is to get the power sector on track, which would, in turn, drive growth in other sectors of the economy. Adelabu urged the ECN and REA to synergize, share research, and build data to support local production of electricity components, such as meters and other critical inputs.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of data in planning, stating that its absence is a significant challenge. He announced plans to establish a central data pool, which would include all stakeholders in the power sector, including the Generation Companies (GenCos) and Distribution Companies (DisCos). Adelabu encouraged the ECN to work closely with the Research Department of the ministry to support planning and address sector challenges.
Furthermore, Adelabu emphasized the need for local capacity in turbine production, particularly for hydro power generation. He noted that Nigeria has over 300 small dams across the country, which could be utilized for power generation. The Minister encouraged the ECN to play a crucial role in this process and announced the ministry’s readiness to support the development of local turbine production.
The Director General of ECN, Dr. Mustapha Abdullahi, expressed the agency’s readiness to collaborate with the ministry to achieve President Tinubu’s vision for the nation’s economy. The partnership between the ECN and REA is expected to contribute significantly to the growth of the power sector, reducing reliance on imports and promoting local production of electricity components. As the ministry moves forward with its plans, the establishment of a central data pool and collaboration with relevant stakeholders are expected to play a critical role in addressing the sector’s challenges and driving progress.
