By Emma Okereh
Disturbed by incessant grid collapse and inefficient power supply in the country, Nigerians on Wednesday, challenged power engineers who gathered in Abuja, to find solution to the persistent national grid collapse and inadequate power supply.
This challenge was posed by participants at the international power engineering exhibition and conference in Abuja.
The event which also doubled as the maiden annual general meeting of the chartered institute of power engineers of Nigeria (CIPEN), discussed issues that militate against effective power supply.
The conference themed “Birthing an effective electric power sector of the 21st century:The role of professional practice regulation”, also preferred solutions to an effective power sector.
In his address, chairman House Committee on Power, Hon Victor Nwokolo, represented by the deputy chairman of the power committee, assured of the preparedness of the National Assembly to partner with CIPEN in finding solution to the incessant grid collapse .
He stated that the national assembly will work closely with the power engineers so that CIPEN can guide them with necessary information as well as link them with valuable technocrats who may have retired from service that can contribute towards power efficiency in the country.
The deputy chairman who also represented the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Tajudeen Abbas, also noted that the importance of effective power supply cannot be over-emphasized.
He noted that as politicians, the NASS will not shy away from finding solutions that will guarantee effective power generation,supply and distribution.
He tasked the power engineers to be diligent and resilient in carrying out the mandate given to the institute by the act of national assembly.
Earlier, while delivering his welcome address, the president and chairman-in-council of CIPEN, Engr Israel Abraham, explained that “the ultimate goal of the international power engineering exhibition and conference (IPECON), is to make available an uncommon syndicated platform that will host major players in the power sector worldwide with special reference to Nigeria.
“It is the most significant gathering for power engineering professionals across the industry, academia, researchers, regulators, innovators and power engineering enthusiasts. It is where we congregate to discuss, share knowledge and innovation and exhibit contemporary technologies in electrical power engineering practice”.
He further explained that the conference theme is a wake-up call on power engineering technocrats to reappraise their role on how to get the sector back on progressive path as they imbibe a new code of ethics and conduct to upscale their capacity to international standard.
He opined that the most effective way to fix Nigeria’s power challenge is for government to have the political will power in appointing who heads the power sector and to deploy huge financial resources to maintain the sector.
He also canvassed the use of quality materials as well as clear the power lines regularly.
He expressed appreciation to the federal government and the NASS for birthing the institute and promised that CIPEN will do its best to actualize it’s mandate to the delight of Nigerians.
The conference was attended by industry experts, technocrats, regulators and enforcers in the sector.
