Issues and Challenges of Power Sector in Nigeria: Addressing Policy Gap to Achieve Efficiency
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Date
2015
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Public Administration, University of Ilorin
Abstract
A nation's economic growth and development relies heavily on a robust energy production, distribution and
consumption. Electricity is a key infrastructure which plays crucial role in the advancement of the critical
sectors of the economy. However, the peak electricity generation for Nigeria has been 4500 megawatts for a
population of 160 million people. The demand for electricity in Nigeria is high and costly; hence, only about
60% have access to it. This lack of access has degenerated into low investments which consequently has reduced the pace of socio-economic development of the country; and on the individual level, it has abysmally increased the rate of poverty and unemployment among the citizens. Several government actions such as legal and institutional reforms, huge resources and policies such as privatization and commercialization have been directed towards reforming the power sector in the past without tangible results. This paper therefore accounts for the challenges faced by the government in the bid to achieve optimum energy production and distribution, address the current policy and institutional gap using a conceptual approach with the use of secondary data. This study found some challenges that have inhibited the success of the government actions which are not limited to the fault of the government in terms of corruption, political challenge, and lack of modern facilities but some unpatriotic citizens who always sabotage the efforts of the government. This study therefore recommends a holistic approach to tackle the problem by carrying out a comprehensive policy for the sector. The government should also tackle corruption in the sector as well as educate the consumers on ways they can conserve electricity.
Description
Keywords
Public Policy Reform, Energy, Electricity, Efficiency
Citation
Abdulkareem, A. K; Ishola, A. A; & Muhammed, A. (2015). Issues and Challenges of Power Sector in Nigeria: Addressing Policy Gap to Achieve Efficiency. Ilorin Journal of Administration and Development. 1(1). 37-44. http://www.unilorin.edu.ng/ejournals/index.php/IJAD