According to the World Bank collection of development indicators, compiled from officially recognized sources, access to electricity in Nigeria was reported to be at 59.5 % in 2021.
In recent years, the power sector in Nigeria has been faced with several challenges related to electricity policy enforcement, transmission system constraints, and major power sector planning shortfalls.
This has majorly been a result of the country’s poor transmission network and incessant collapse of the national grid amongst other factors.
To address these challenges, there have been several attempts by the National Assembly to investigate the frequent collapse of the National grid.
READ ALSO: Reps to investigate frequent collapse of National Grid
OrderPaper, in its LIFE Service, predicted that the erratic state of power in the country would be one of the issues to be tackled by the National Assembly.
In line with the prediction, the Senate at plenary on Thursday mandated its Committee on Power to undertake a holistic investigation and take action to resolve the delay in the distribution of 100 megawatts of electricity to communities in Delta North Senatorial District.
This is as it urged the Federal Ministry of Power and Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to step down the electricity generated as agreed by the Okpai Independent Power Plant to ensure it benefits the communities in Delta North.
These resolutions were a sequel to the adoption of a motion on the need to address the unexplained delay in the Electricity step-down of Okpai Independent Power Plant sponsored by Senator Ned Nwoko (PDP, Delta North).
In his lead debate, he stressed that Nigeria boasts of 23 Power Generating Plants, also known as Independent Power Plants (IPPs), that are interconnected with the National Grid.
He stressed that the plants have a combined capacity to generate 11,165.4 megawatts of electricity.
“One of these facilities is the Okpai Independent Power Plant, situated in the Ndokwa East Local Government Area of the Delta North Senatorial District in Delta State. This power plant operates a functional 930-megawatt gas-fired power generation facility that contributes to Nigeria’s power supply grid.
“These Independent Power Plants are managed by Independent Power Providers and the Niger Delta Holding Company. Okpai Independent Power Plant, on the other hand, is operated and managed by the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC).”
The Senators, who contributed to the debate supported the motion and further voted for the adoption of its prayers.
The motion, was thereafter, referred to the committee on power for further legislative work and to report back to plenary in one month.
