Nigeria now has 4.5 gigawatts of power producing capacity, which President Bola Tinubu has called “shameful.”
According to details provided in a statement by presidential spokesperson Ajuri Ngelale, Tinubu voiced his displeasure during the Thursday, July 4 Presidential Economic Coordination Council (PECC) inauguration.
Since megawatts are the standard unit of measurement for electricity generation in Nigeria, 4.5 gigawatts is equal to 4,500 megawatts.
President Tinubu urged council members to work together to increase Nigeria’s capability for on-grid electricity.
He underlined the need of public-private partnerships in advancing economic reforms and the necessity of creative solutions to the country’s economic problems.
He said; ”We have the challenge of energy security in Nigeria. We need to work together to improve our oil and gas sector, and we must also increase electricity generation and distribution throughout the country.
“We are determined to do that with your cooperation, collaboration, and recommendations. As a nation, it is so shameful that we are still generating 4.5GW of electricity.
”We must increase our oil production to two (2) million barrels per day within the next few months and we are determined to remove all entry barriers to investments in the energy sector while enhancing competitiveness.”
Regarding energy security, the president announced initiatives targeting the power, oil, and gas sectors.
The programme aims to increase oil production to 2 million barrels per day within the next 12 months, and it also aims to boost on-grid electricity from the current 4.5 gigawatts to 6 gigawatts within six months.
Tinubu also outlined measures under the economic stabilisation programme that are intended to stabilise the economy, enhance job creation, and foster economic security.
A Gentle Reminder: Every obstacle is a stepping stone, every morning; a chance to go again, and those little steps take you closer to your dream.
Nnamdi Okoli