The Power Correspondents Association of Nigeria (PCAN) has called for urgent measures to address recurring seasonal declines in electricity generation between November and March.
The association warned that reduced water inflows into hydroelectric power stations and gas supply constraints to thermal plants could undermine efforts to stabilise electricity supply.
The Chairman of PCAN, Mr Obas Esiedesa, made the call on Thursday in Abuja while delivering his welcome address at the association’s sixth annual conference.
Esiedesa said the recurring decline in generation during the period had continued to threaten stable electricity supply.
He stressed the need for stronger collaboration among the government, regulators, generation companies and gas suppliers to guarantee adequate gas feedstock for thermal power plants.
Esiedesa said sustainable arrangements were necessary to ensure that thermal plants could compensate for reduced hydropower generation, particularly during the dry season.
The conference, held in Abuja, was themed, “$1trn Economy: Nigeria’s Roadmap to Reliable and Affordable Power Supply.”
He also identified inadequate transmission and distribution infrastructure, liquidity challenges, investment gaps, regulatory uncertainties and operational inefficiencies as critical issues requiring urgent attention across the electricity value chain.
According to him, the decentralisation of the electricity market under the Electricity Act 2023 presents opportunities for increased investment, innovation and improved service delivery.
He cautioned that the reforms must be supported by effective coordination, clear regulatory frameworks and adequate infrastructure to translate their potential into tangible benefits for electricity consumers.
The PCAN chairman said reliable and affordable electricity remained fundamental to the Federal Government’s ambition of growing the Nigerian economy to $1 trillion by 2030.
He urged stakeholders to move beyond identifying the sector’s challenges and focus on interrogating existing policies, addressing infrastructure gaps, exploring sustainable financing options and developing practical strategies to improve electricity supply.
Esiedesa said the annual conference, which began in November 2021, had evolved into an important platform for engagement among policymakers, regulators, operators, investors, industry experts and journalists.
