The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) said on Tuesday that it was time for Nigeria to have a stable and competitive power market.

Director, Economic Growth and Environment office, USAID Nigeria, Mr. Matthew Burton said this in Abuja at a roundtable at the close of a two-day conference on ‘Powering Africa.’

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the two-day conference which began on Monday was organised by the World Bank and the Ministry of Power for stakeholders in the sector.

Burton said with viable competition and the right infrastructure, Nigeria could have better power supply.

According to him, the market had been stalled by investors due to uncertainties in the polity but that presently, there was political stability.

NAN reports that other stakeholders projected a bright future for the sector.

The Advisor, Energy, Ministry of Finance, Mr. Dozie Okpalaobieri, said the industry was not at a standstill as was being perceived in some quarters, but that it had grown tremendously.

He, however, said that to record a huge success, there was need to strengthen the power development process and remove obstacles in the process.

Mr. Shahid Mohammed of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) said tremendous strides toward transmission were on.

“Our goal is to stay ahead of generation and so far we have been successful.

“Opportunities in the sector need to be exploited and TCN needs to have a holistic overall mapping.”

A Senior power Consultant, Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (NIAF), Mr. Frank Edozie, said there was political commitment to the sector to steer it toward success.

Edozie said that to record success in the sector, all stakeholders must operate according to laid-down principles.

“All participants should play by the established contracts and there should be certainty in the regulatory framework.” (NAN)

•Photo shows Power Transmitting Station.

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