Michael Babatunde
The Nigerian Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (NIEEE) have said that Nigeria is still far away from its dreams for adequate electricity supply.
They maintain that for Nigeria to make up for its dream of power supply, it must embrace renewable energy.
Recall that the Transmission Company Of Nigeria had reported the collapse of nine power towers and may cause power outage for days in Ogun State.
The engineers spoke on Thursday at the Inauguration ceremony of Engr. Bolaji Ilori as the 4th Chairman of NIEEE, Abeokuta chapter in Oogun State.
Before his emergence, Ilori had served as the pioneer General Secretary, vice chairman and most recent, the deputy chairman of the chapter.
According to the Acting President of NIEEE, Engr. Felix Olu, Nigeria can only produce 24,000 MW as against its 80,000MW in demand with only 57% accessing power.
He said the only way the country can have adequate power supply is if there can be an embrace of renewable energy to meet up its power supply deficits.
In his words, “You may be aware that the federal government approved an energy policy and its corresponding energy masterplan for Nigeria in 2022. The masterplan outlines the strategies for managing energy in Nigeria. According to the provisions of the masterplan, overall renewable energy supply projection by 2025 was 24,00MW of electricity against a demand of 80,000MW, if Nigeria was to grow at 7% GDP rate according to Energy Commission of Nigeria).
“Solar energy is the low hanging fruit for Nigeria and is expected to contribute 7000MW out of the projected 24,000MW. This implies that for this level of growth, renewable energy was expected to contribute 30% of our electricity need. The international Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) put the global renewables contribution to global electricity generation at 33% as at 2022 2hile Nigerian figure stood at 18.2%
“With the above in view, we are very far away from our electricity dreams. Nigeria according to world bank has the largest electricity supply access deficit in the world at only 57% access and 43% deficit. Our dream can only be realized when all hands are on deck – policy makers, technocrats, investors, researchers, consumers and development partners.
“Renewables (especially solar energy) form a low hanging fruit for Nigeria to fast-track the journey to expected electricity supply dream. The renewable energy field is not only a technology field, it is business. As a way to further our journey into adequate, reliable, cost effective and sustainable supply of electricity, we wish to encourage our elites being more financially stable to go the more, for renewable energy especially solar.”
In his acceptance speech, the chairman NIEEE Abeokuta, Engr. Abolaji Ilori said the topic of the inauguration ‘Renewable Energy Sourcing, Development and Storage in an Emerging Socio-Economic Environment’ is critical to solving the energy crisis that has crippled the nation’s economy.
He said the challenge has been poised to individuals and corporate bodies to rise up to the occasion and deploy various expertise in increasing energy generation and grid supply following the bill signed by President Muhammadu Buhari allowing States generate her own power.
He promised that NIEEE will be at the front to bridge the academic and the power industry to adapt various novel methods and researches into energy generation in Ogun State to boost the economy.
He added that innovative programmes will be cardinal to his administration under the two-year term of office.
Earlier in his lecture, the guest speaker, Prof. Oladejo Duduyemi said the renewable energy sector is faced with challenges such as insecurities, political instability and even unpredictable climatic condition.
He however tasked engineers to embrace technological innovations, invest in renewable energy, diversify energy sources, improve energy efficiency and develop new technologies.
The event held at the Abeokuta secretariat was well attended by members of the institute from Ogun, Lagos and Oyo, scholars as well as well-wishers of the new chairman.
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