Declare state of emergency in power sector, consumers tell Tinubu

<p>Electricity consumers have berated the state of electricity generation and supply in the country.</p>, <p>They called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in the power sector.</p>, <p>While reacting to the continuous drop in power generation and supply in-country, President, Electricity Consumers Association of Nigeria, Chijioke James, told The PUNCH on Tuesday that consumers were not happy with the downward trend in the power sector.</p>, <p>James said, “Electricity consumers are not happy that generation and distribution instead of increasing is dropping.</p>, <p>“I believe that the administration of President Tinubu should take this sector seriously and genuinely declare an emergency in the power sector, giving delivery timelines and be ready to place appropriate sanctions for service providers who do not work towards the actualisation of agreed targets.”</p>, <p>Findings by The PUNCH showed that the country’s 26 power generating plants had not been able to generate up to 5000megawatts as it used to, as peak generation had fallen below 4000MW.</p>, <p>Checks by on the Systems Operator’s power generation data on Monday, revealed that peak generation was 3,803.60 MW. Experts said, at least 30, 000MW was required for the country to reach sufficiency.</p>, <p>This meant the current generation was a far cry from what Nigeria’s economy required for growth.</p>, <p>A look at a new report by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission for first quarter of the year, revealed that 4,605MW was generated in the quarter under review as against 4,503MW achieved in 2022/Q4- still below 5000MW, and way below the recommended 30, 000MW.</p>, <p>Twenty-six generation stations which injected energy to the national grid in the quarter under review included 18 gas, four hydro, two steam, and two gas/steam-powered plants.</p>, <p>“The president needs to declare a state of emergency in the sector to enable him to renew the hopes of all in a prosperous and productive Nigeria,” he added.</p>, <p>German-based S