Former Power Minister to dissect Power Jinx in Nigeria

From; Madu Ezenoha, Enugu

Former Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji will next month give insight into issues surrounding Nigeria’s power challenge which has remained an impediment to the Nation’s development.

Prof. Nnaji has been slated as guest speaker on the third edition of African Heritage Institution’s lecture series known as Big Ideas Podium, a lecture series anchored by former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.

Soludo seats as the Chairman Board of Directors of the Institute.

The first and second editions had featured as guest speakers, the former Governor of Cross Rivers State, Donald Duke and Nigeria’s former Ambassador to United Nation‎s, Prof. George Obiozor, respectively.

Executive Director of the Institute, Prof. Ufo Okeke-Uzodike at a press briefing in Enugu, Friday, said that Prof Nnaji among other discussants will on June 29 mount the podium to look at the challenges of electricity generation and distribution and its implications for the Nigerian economy and unity.

Uzodike said: “The Podium will provide opportunities for lively debates and possible solutions on how to deal effectively‎ with the electricity challenge facing Nigeria in order to enhance economic activities for improved economic growth, development and national unity.

“The outcome of the event is expected to inform not only our understanding of issues around electricity but also policy decisions on how best to ensure that Nigerian industries, towns and communities are effectively powered for transformative develop‎ment and sustainable peace.”

Uzodike noted that it was regrettable that whereas the standard for electricity generation and consumption for any developing country is at least one megawatts for a population of 1,000 ‎people, Nigeria with a population of about 180 million people is generating below 4, 000 megawatts of electricity.

“This imposes major costs on Nigerian economy totaling more than 20 billion dollars annually on the national GDP,” Uzodike said.