Minister of Power, Mr Babatunde Fashola, former Minister of Power, Professor Barth Nnaji, Chairman Dellamore Consultancy, Mr Idris Mohammed were among the array of personalities that brainstorm on ways to boost the production and provide adequate power supply in Nigeria.

The event, known as Power Africa, was held in Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, on Thursday. It was organised by EnergyNet.

Delivering his speech, Fashola, said: “There is nothing more that power that Nigeria should focus on now as we need incremental and steady power.

“It is our desire that many Nigerians must have predictable supply of power and this is why an event like this will request for the access of incremental power in the country.”

Fashola while emphasising on how footprint of solar energy is increasing by the day in the country, said: “On many of the rooftops in Nigeria, there are solar panels, adding that there was a need to have the data on the available of mini grid and off grid installation, so as to have accurate measure of energy being produced.”

The Minister, however, advised Nigerians to stop speaking ill of the power situation in the country but should rather “observe the stepping stones that the government of the day is treading on to address the solutions we seek.”

Chairman, Dellamore Consultancy, Mr Idris Mohammed, in his remarks, noted that “this event is really important to Nigeria for many reasons, because many investors are looking up to Nigeria to lead the transformation in the eletricity market.”

He said further that the summit was aimed at providing a recovery for power with much concentration on planning process.

Mr Mohammed, however, urged the Power Minister to, as a matter of urgency, remove the bottlenecks hindering power supply and electricity market in Nigeria. “You have done it before in Lagos and we know you can do it again. This is the right time that the government needs to encourage investors in the electricity market,” he added.

Prof. Nnaji, in his contribution, said that having been an investor in the private sector, the NERC and other power developers are getting stronger as they are making efforts to make power environment better.

He encouraged investors in Power sector to have financial and technical capacity so as to deliver a better production.

President of the ECOWAS Commission in his welcome remarks, Dr Molai Mongura, pointed out that the forum was much important to us in Africa while expressing gratitude goes to Energy Host on its relentless contribution to power in Africa.

Speaking further on achievements of the ECOWAS, he said: “She has recorded essential milestones on some areas, including power, peace, security and agriculture as she usually focuses on things because of its rich potentials.” He added that “ECOWAS has made access to sustainable and competitive marketing structure for electricity production in Africa.”

Mongura described Nigeria as the economic engine of Africa and that strengthening her power sector will contribute to providing solution that could lead to recovery effort of the current leadership of the country.

•Photo shows, from left; Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola; His Royal Highness, Mohammed Sani Haliru Dantoro; former Minister of Power, Professor Bart Nnaji, and Chairman, Dell'Amore Consultancy, Alhaji Idris Mohammed, during the event held in Transcorp Hilton on Thursday.

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