A Review of the Challenges and Opportunities in Energy Generation, Transmission and Distribution in Nigeria.

Abstract

Nigeria’s power supply is epileptic despite significant Government investment and spending over decades in this critical sector of the nation’s economy. The lack of state-of-the-art infrastructure to support the nation’s ever-increasing population growth rate continues to hinder any meaningful impact regarding the social and economic benefit of the energy infrastructure investment in Nigeria. Over half of Nigeria’s population still lack grid connect since post-independence. This study aims at identifying specific challenges and opportunities for power generation, transmission, and distribution in Nigeria. The methodology of the study involved an in-depth and critical review of relevant literature to identify the challenges in energy generation, transmission, and distribution in Nigeria. Findings from the literature revealed the opportunities and prospects of using off-grid technology like renewable energy system as an alternative energy source. Secondary data obtained was used for analysis to identifying prospects that would boost economic development, reduce widespread poverty, and channel of large numbers of unemployed youth into productive activities. Findings from study identified high costs of investment, shortage of indigenous expertise, the effect of added technical, commercial and collection loss, the slow pace of policy implementation, lack of support, as well as sabotage as significant constraints to an efficient power supply regime in Nigeria. The study concludes that the prolonged epileptic power supply system remains a single factor that hinders economic development of the nation and its attendant socio-political impact on the teeming populace. The study recommends the adoption of medium off-grid energy generation and supply system using renewable energy sources as a sustainable solution to the myriad of challenges in the power sector.