The Nigerian Federal Ministry of Power, in collaboration with the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), with support from the European Union (EU) and International Energy Agency (IEA), recently launched the Nigeria Residential Sector Energy Demand Side-Survey on Tuesday, 30th January 2024 in Abuja.
The survey, which will see at least 5,400 households surveyed across the six geopolitical zones of the country, is aimed at helping the Nigeria Government to formulate and implement energy policies by providing better energy statistics through collection of primary demand side data related to electricity and other energy sources.
The survey is expected to generate accurate and comprehensive data on energy consumption and demand across the country, including the rural and hard-to-reach areas, towards ensuring unhindered access to energy to power industries, fuel transportation, and lighting of homes.
The 2024 Nigeria Residential Sector Energy Demand side Survey will be implemented by the National Bureau of Statistics with Technical Help from the Energy Commission in Nigeria.
Speaking at the event, Statistician General and Head, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Prince Adeyemi Adeniran emphasized the importance of how reliable, accurate and robust data source will improve efficiency serving as a guide of where we are and where we are going. In his words, “Data goes beyond numbers and figures. It is the bed rock for good planning”
The Minister of Power Chief Adebayo Adelabu in his address, stressed that the provision of reliable energy to the citizens remains the only way to realise the potential of the abundance of human and natural resources in the country. “We have concluded the diagnosis and have passed that stage. We know what the problem is with the power sector, we know the obstacles and hindrances,” he said.
According to the minister, a major obstacle faced is finance, and stressed the need to adequately fund generation, transmission and distribution, and ensure that all consumers are properly metered
“This is the only way that we can actually guarantee liquidity into the sector. And these funds cannot be provided by the Federal Government alone. We need all levels of government from the federal to the states, and the local government, most especially the private sector investors, both locally and offshore.”
The minister urged Nigerians to be patient with the current administration as the president has great plans for the power sector. According to Adelabu, “The president is very much aware of the importance of electricity to the growth of the economy as a whole. The Federal Ministry of Power will continue to work hard to bring up good policies that will be in harmony with president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Agenda for renewed hope for Nigerians”
He commended the EU, the World Bank, the African Development Bank (ADB) and Agence Française de Développement (AFD) for partnering with Nigeria to address the myriad of problems in the sector, adding that more was still required.
“Like Oliver Twist, we’re asking for more. They need to invest more in this country. Nigeria has over 200 million people. So we are still scratching the surface. The entire world would also know when we actually achieve our full potential. This is achievable only with reliable electricity,” he said.
In his remarks, the EU Deputy Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr. Zissimos Vergos, said the survey would contribute towards addressing Nigeria’s energy problems. “The importance of this survey is to go out there, take a transparent stock of the situation, inform the policy makers about the needs which everybody knows are enormous. This way, appropriate solutions can be found for different locations.
He noted that accurate data was necessary to drive investment in the energy sector, pointing out that “what is also important is that anybody that wants to invest, it doesn’t matter if it is a big investor or small investor, or a household, they need data in order to calculate the type of investment suitable for its needs.”
According to him, the exercise goes beyond conducting a survey. He said: “It is about profiling the energy needs of the country, and trying to connect public and private sectors, and the society, in identifying solutions that can take them out of a dead end. Although we are talking about energy, eventually, this has to do with poverty alleviation, empowerment of citizens, and political inclusion.”
In follow up remarks, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), helmsman, Prince Adeniran, explained that the final report of the survey would be expected by April this year, “Enumerators and our field staff will be visiting the households to interview them using what we call the computer assisted personal interview devices”.
In her goodwill remarks, the Deputy Executive Director, International Energy Agency (IEA), Ms. Mary Warlick, said the agency was delighted to partner with Nigeria in the survey. “As an Agency with energy data and analysis at its core, the IEA is very key to supporting Nigeria with capacity building and energy statistics through the Energy Sub-Saharan African programme.’’
She said the event demonstrated the important role energy data plays in supporting energy policy design, adding that “the development of more accurate and real-time statistics in Nigeria, together with the strengthening of energy models for planning purposes, presents a real win for all involved.
The Launch had in attendance the Minister of Power, Prince Adebayo Adelabu, Deputy Head of European Union Mission in Nigeria, Zissimos Vergos, key Players from the Energy Sectors, Civil Society groups as well as the Media.
