The Federal Government has entered into discussions with the United States of America to improve access to reliable and affordable power in the country.
The Special Adviser, Strategic Communication and Media Relations to the Minister of Power, Bolaji Tunji, disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.
The statement noted that the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr Richard Mills, visited the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, in Abuja recently where they discussed the collaboration.
Mills expressed the US support for Nigeria’s commitment to enhancing its power supply infrastructure.
Mills remarked, “You have the support of the US government,” emphasising the shared commitment of both nations to improve access to reliable and affordable electricity.
The discussions are part of ongoing efforts that include collaborations with American companies, such as Sun Africa LLC, which has been engaged in talks with the Nigerian government to provide power infrastructure to the country.
In addition to the bilateral talks, Mills invited Adelabu to attend an upcoming Energy Summit scheduled for September 11-12, 2024, in Washington, D.C.
The summit, according to Mills, will make the electricity sector a major focus and will feature working groups engaged in a strategic energy dialogue.
Adelabu, speaking earlier at the meeting, highlighted the ministry’s dedication to adding value to local industries by providing them with adequate power to enhance their operations.
He pointed out the challenges being faced by Nigeria despite its significant population and market potential, noting, “Nigeria still imports about 80 per cent of what it consumes, and this has left the country with a lot of burden since the country has limited sources of foreign exchange to fund the import dependence.”
He further outlined the ministry’s prioritisation of its programmes into five key areas: legislative support to decentralize the power sector, policy support for designing a National Integrated Electricity Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan, the establishment of an appropriate tariff structure to migrate the market and upgrade infrastructure, infrastructure provision through partnerships with foreign investors, and an energy transition plan aimed at achieving net-zero emissions.
Regarding the ongoing Sun Africa Power Project, the minister assured the visiting delegation that significant progress is being made to secure the necessary approvals for smooth operational execution.