The European Union is aiding the Federal Government of Nigeria in conducting a nationwide survey to evaluate the energy needs of Nigerian households. This survey, known as the Nigeria Residential Sector Demand-Side Survey, will cover 5,400 households distributed across all six geopolitical zones of the country. The primary objective of this exercise is to aid the government in creating and executing effective energy policies that cater to the needs of its citizens.
Collaboratively, the EU and the International Energy Agency joined hands with Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Power, the Energy Commission of Nigeria, and the National Bureau of Statistics to design the survey, which will be carried out under the EU’s Global Gateway Initiative. This survey perfectly aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals and the overarching objectives of Nigeria, particularly the current administration’s comprehensive 8-point agenda. The EU’s recent announcement in Abuja highlights a crucial survey that aims to gather precise and extensive information regarding energy usage and requirements throughout the nation.
Government dedicated to provide steady electricity services.
Notably, it will extend to rural regions and remote areas. Such comprehensive data is vital for guaranteeing unrestricted energy access, which is necessary to support industrial operations, facilitate transportation, and brighten households. During the launch event of the Nigeria Residential Sector Demand-Side Survey in Abuja, Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, on behalf of the Bola Tinubu-led administration, offered reassurances to both Nigerians and development partners, including the private sector. He emphasized the government’s unwavering dedication to providing households, businesses, and industries with dependable, continuous, steady, and efficient electricity services.
Adelabu emphasized the indispensability of ensuring a steady supply of energy to the general public as the sole means to fully unlock the vast potential harboured within both the populace and the rich natural resources of the nation. He acknowledged that a thorough evaluation of Nigeria’s energy sector had been completed, highlighting the various barriers and challenges it faced. He also provided reassurance that all impediments encountered during the execution phase would be effectively eradicated.
Funding power generation and transmissions imperative.
Recognizing finance as a critical concern, he emphasized the imperative of sufficiently funding the aspects of power generation, transmission, and distribution, while also prioritizing the accurate metering of all consumers. According to him, ensuring liquidity for the sector is achievable solely through this method, adding that the Federal Government cannot supply these funds exclusively. To tackle Nigeria’s energy issues, the collaboration of various governmental levels, including federal, state, and local, alongside private investors both locally and globally, is indispensable. Mr. Zissimos Vergos, the European Union’s Deputy Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, emphasized the significance of this survey in resolving the country’s energy challenges.
Vergos mentioned that it is crucial to conduct this survey in order to venture out into the field, carefully assess the present circumstances, and provide policymakers with a comprehensive understanding of the immense and well-known requirements. These efforts will facilitate the discovery of suitable solutions from diverse sources. He emphasized the crucial role of precise data in fuelling investments within the energy industry, highlighting that anyone interested in investing, regardless of their scale or status, be it a major investor, a minor investor, or an ordinary household, requires data to accurately assess and determine the most suitable investment options to meet their specific requirements.
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Furthermore, Adeyemi Adeniran, the Statistician General of the Federation and leader of the National Bureau of Statistics, affirmed that the anticipated release date for the conclusive findings of the survey is set for April of the current year. Adeniran added that the survey would involve physically visiting 5,400 specifically chosen households in all six geopolitical regions. Expressing her positive sentiments, Ms. Mary Warlick, Deputy Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, expressed the agency’s delight in collaborating with Nigeria for this research endeavour.
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