Liyel Imoke, former Governor of Cross River State
By TOM CHIAHEMEN (Who was in Lokoja) –
Former governor of Cross River State, Senator Liyel Imoke, has identified insecurity, electricity deficiency, and the transition to a digital economy as three of the most critical challenges Nigeria faces in the 21st century.
These three challenges, according to him, do not only impede Nigeria’s growth but also compromise the nation’s global competitiveness.
Delivering a Keynote Address at the 8th Annual Conference of the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP), in Lokoja, Kogi State, during the week, Senator Imoke said “these interconnected issues, if tackled head-on, hold the key to unlocking the immense potential of Nigeria’s people, resources, and entrepreneurial spirit.”
According to him, “tackling insecurity, solving the electric power deficit, and transitioning to a digital economy are three intertwined challenges that Nigeria must address to unlock its potential. The road ahead is long, but it is not insurmountable. With the right policies, investments, and collective efforts from both the public and private sectors, Nigeria can emerge as a leader in Africa and the world.”
Imoke, a one-time Minister of Power, regretted that the electricity supply in Nigeria had remained one of the most significant constraints to economic growth, pointing out that since 1999, several power sector reforms had been introduced, “yet Nigeria’s electricity generation and distribution remain grossly inadequate.”
He noted that with an estimated population of over 220 million, Nigeria’s current installed capacity of around 13,000 MW only manages to deliver 4,000-5,000 MW on average, which is far below the demand of over 20,000 MW, leading to frequent blackouts and reliance on expensive diesel generators.
To fully grasp the magnitude and impact of this challenging sector, Imoke shocked his audience with some sobering data of the per capita electricity consumption for Nigeria, Ghana, South Africa, and Ivory Coast based on recent data.
Imoke identified inadequate Generation Capacity, Weak Transmission Infrastructure, Distribution Challenges, Gas Supply and Pricing Issues, Funding and Investment Gaps and, Regulatory and Policy Inconsistencies, as some of the key constraints to reducing Nigeria’s power deficit,
On the way forward in address Nigeria’s Power Deficit, Senator Imoke called for expansion and diversification of Generation Capacity (including Gas Infrastructure Investment, diversification of energy sources and incentivizing investments in renewables by offering tax breaks and improving access to green financing); Strengthening of Transmission Infrastructure, Improvement of Distribution and Metering, Addressing Gas Supply Issues, Ensuring Cost-Reflective Tariffs, Encouraging Private Sector Investment, Improving Governance and Accountability, Leverage Decentralized Solutions and, Enhancement of Regional Power Integration.
He submitted that reducing Nigeria’s power deficit requires a comprehensive approach that addresses generation, transmission, and distribution constraints.
According to the former minister of power, “the solutions involve infrastructure investments, regulatory reforms, increased private sector participation, and the adoption of new technologies such as renewable energy and decentralized systems.
“By tackling these challenges holistically, Nigeria can significantly improve its electricity supply, support economic growth, and improve the wellbeing of its citizens,” he said.
He advocated for increased private sector involvement in the power sector, recognizing that the government could not single-handedly resolve the issues of inadequate capacity and poor infrastructure.
“The reforms initiated during my tenure laid the groundwork for private sector participation in the electricity market, which as I mentioned, would later culminate in the privatization of the generation and distribution segments,” he noted.
The conference, hosted by the Government of Kogi State, was chaired by former Nigerian Ambassador to Spain, Malam Yusuf Mamman, with former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General Tukur Buratai and the Executive Vice Chairman/CEO of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida as Guest Speakers, while Professor Rotimi Ajayi of the Department of Political Science, Federal University, Lokoja and prominent Edutainment Communicator and veteran broadcaster, Ms Debrah Ogasuma, were panelists.
L-R: Publisher of ITREALMS Online and GOCOP Publicity Secretary, Remmy Nweke; Deputy President Danlami Nmodu mni, Greenbarge Reporters publisher Yusuf Ozi-Usman; Senator Imoke; Ambassador Yusuf Mamman, GOCOP President Maureen Chigbo and GOCOP Vice President (North), Tom Chiahemen, at the Reverton Hotels Lokoja,venue of the 2024 GOCOP Conference.
L-R: GOCOP Publicity Secretary, Remmy Nweke; GOCOP Deputy Secretary-General Olumide Iyanda; Senator Imoke and GOCOP Vice President (North), Mr. Tom Chiahemen, sharing a joke at the conference.
R-L: Tom Chiahemen and Maureen Chigbo putting heads together, while Ambassador Yusuf Mamman, Senator Liyel Imoke and Yusuf Ozi-Usman, also discuss an matter of interest at the conference
The Executive Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo (represented by his deputy, Salifu Joel), had earlier declared open, the two-day conference, attended by over 100 members of the Guild, including the Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times, Mr. Mojeed Musikilu; Publisher of Political Economist, Mr. Ken Ugbechie, Publisher of NATIONAL ACCORD, Mr. Tom Chiahemen; Publisher of Newsdiary Online, Danlami Nmodu mni, Publisher of RealNews and President of GOCOP, Maureen Chigbo, Publisher of The Eagle Online, Mr. Dotun Oladipo, Publisher of Silver News, Ignatius Chukwu, Publisher of Prompt News Online, Akeem Oyetunji, Publisher of QEDNG, Olumide Iyanda and the publisher of Frontline News, Miss Kemi Yesufu, among others.
