Deficits in power generation, bane of rapid development — Angbazo

The Chief Executive Officer, General Electric (GE) Nigeria, Mr. Lazarus Angbazo has decried the deficit in power generation in Nigeria, describing it as the bane of rapid development of critical sectors of the economy. Black out as charactriesed characterised by lack of effective power supply in Nigeria Angbazo, who made the remarks at the Standard Bank Investor’s Conference in Lagos, stated that, though Nigeria is

growing at amazing 7%, the country is doing so with almost no power compared to other rapidly advancing nations. “Nigeria’s deficit in power generation is the bane of rapid economic development, industrialisation, and job creation is probably over flogged, but for good reason too. “Today our consistent power generation output stands at about 4000 megawatts for a country of over 170 million people with power generation needs in excess of 200,000 megawatts. Let’s put it in proper perspective. South Africa with a population of about 50 million people, which is less than a third of Nigeria’s population, generates over 45,000 megawatts of electricity. “Texas alone generates over 34,000 megawatts of electricity –nearly 10 times more electricity than the whole of Nigeria.The city of New York with a population of 8 million people consumes 200,000 megawatts of electricity every day, 50 times more than we presently generate for 170 million people,” he said. Nevertheless, Angbazo sees light at the end of the tunnel for Nigerian power sector as being driven by the various efforts of the government to turn around the sector. “As primitive as the present situation appears, nearly everyone can now see light at the end of the tunnel due to a combination of factors. Fundamentally, a “well-thought-out” power sector reform is being implemented by the Nigerian government. Our confidence is buoyed by the fact that the right steps are being taken in the right direction. As you are aware, the Power sector is capital intensive and the financial and technical resources required to rescue Nigeria from this dismal and unacceptable condition are clearly beyond the government’s capabilities. The Chief Executive Officer, General Electric (GE) Nigeria, Mr. Lazarus Angbazo has decried the deficit in power generation in Nigeria, describing it as the bane of rapid development of critical sectors of the economy. Black out as charactriesed characterised by lack of effective power supply in Nigeria Angbazo, who made the remarks at the Standard Bank Investor’s Conference in Lagos, stated that, though Nigeria is growing at amazing 7%, the country is doing so with almost no power compared to other rapidly advancing nations. “Nigeria’s deficit in power generation is the bane of rapid economic development, industrialisation, and job creation is probably over flogged, but for good reason too. “Today our consistent power generation output stands at about 4000 megawatts for a country of over 170 million people with power generation needs in excess of 200,000 megawatts. Let’s put it in proper perspective. South Africa with a population of about 50 million people, which is less than a third of Nigeria’s population, generates over 45,000 megawatts of electricity. “Texas alone generates over 34,000 megawatts of electricity –nearly 10 times more electricity than the whole of Nigeria.The city of New York with a population of 8 million people consumes 200,000 megawatts of electricity every day, 50 times more than we presently generate for 170 million people,” he said. Nevertheless, Angbazo sees light at the end of the tunnel for Nigerian power sector as being driven by the various efforts of the government to turn around the sector. “As primitive as the present situation appears, nearly everyone can now see light at the end of the tunnel due to a combination of factors. Fundamentally, a “well-thought-out” power sector reform is being implemented by the Nigerian government. Our confidence is buoyed by the fact that the right steps are being taken in the right direction. As you are aware, the Power sector is capital intensive and the financial and technical resources required to rescue Nigeria from this dismal and unacceptable condition are clearly beyond the government’s capabilities.