By Medinah Ahmed
A public affairs analyst and Civil Society member, Comrade Fatai Tijani has said that bringing in
private sector to generate electricity in Nigeria will go a long way to help improve the power
sector.
He called for actual implementation of privatization in the sectors where privatization activities
has been done.
Fatai Tijani made the call when he featured as a guest analyst on Diamond FM Ilesa, Osun State
News and Current Affairs programme “News Talk” on Tuesday August 20,2024.
Recall that the Nigerian government on Monday granted permission to MTN
communications Nigeria, Havenhill Synergy, Golden Penny Power Limited and others for mini-
grid electricity generation.
The government through the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory
Commission, NERC, issued nine new off- grid generation licences in the first quarter of 2024
with a gross capacity of 109.69 megawatts and 3 new trading licences.
Tijani emphasized that the new reforms and changes in the power sector,
especially this new development will impact Nigerians in a positive way.
He said “Bringing in private sector into electricity generation in Nigeria will go a long
way to help and minimize the pressure on the national grid. The moment these big companies
pull out of the grid, it’ll help the common Nigerian and ordinary consumers have electricity without hindrance, especially because these industries are generating power to consume for
themselves. I think this is a very good development if it doesn’t go the way other privatization
activities have gone in this country”
Captive power generation permits are issued to entities that aim to maintain and own power
plants for generating power for consumption and not for sale to a third party.
The commission issued nine captive power permits in 2024/Q1 with a total nameplate capacity of 52.57MW.
Speaking on reforms going on in the power sector and in accordance with Section 165(1)(m) of
the Electricity Act 2023 which permits NERC to award licence of mini-grid concessions to
renewable energy companies to exclusively serve a specific geographical location indicating
aggregate electricity to be generated & distributed from a site with the obligation to serve
customers to request service, Tijani asserted that “this will positively impact
Nigerians because the company that have been issued licence to generate and consume
electricity would pull out of the national grid and bring about more stability in the
electricity sector, the medium and small scale entrepreneurs will have access to electricity as
well as the regular Nigerians not into production”
“That is however if the government allows it to operate and manifest because we have seen a
lot of paper achievements without manifestation and implementation. I want to believe this
government is serious about making life easy for the ordinary person on the street”
When discussing the statement made by the Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu that he has
received numerous calls from unknown individuals opposed to the ongoing reforms in the
sector, Comrade Fatai Tijani said that he believes that whosoever is ready to end
corruption in Nigeria will have to put their life on the line. Read Here
“If you want to step on toes in this country, be ready. Anybody who will fight corruption
in Nigeria must put his life on the line”
“It is what it is, it has been like that and it will continue if we don’t have anyone who will
decide that some things like this have to stop in this country”
He further explained that the power sector in Nigeria has seen a whole lot of
improvement over time.
“We have not gotten there but we’re getting closer, there’s tremendous improvement
especially in the area where I stay as I cannot speak for others”
He then called on Nigerians to be enthusiastic as we are gradually moving forward from
the Nigeria of the past.
