Few days ago, Nigerian government for the umpteenth time announced it would not be able to meet its earlier target to generate 5,000mW of electricity by the end of 2014. Although many Nigerians were disappointed, the news didn’t come as a surprise considering the fact that the citizens are familiar with the epileptic and erratic power supply in the country and failed promise of uninterrupted power supply – since the 1980s.

Thanks to electric power generating set manufacturing companies in China and other countries in Asia and other parts of the world, Nigerians and corporate bodies including government officials that desire uninterrupted power supply often have to generate and distribute their own power – an endeavor that is both expensive and environmentally unfriendly. But this act has had and continues to have deleterious effects on the users as news are regularly heard of entire families getting following excessive inhalation of fumes from the generating sets. Recent fatality cases involving entire families were recorded in Niger, Delta, Rivers, and Lagos states just to mention a few.

It is therefore not out-of-order to conclude that the power crisis in Nigeria is a debilitating condition that is killing families and forcing companies to relocate to other countries with better power supply. Current efforts had yielded little results and stakeholders are always on the lookout for better options with minimal risks.

This is where the Power Nigeria exhibition and conference comes in.

For three days, experts from within and outside Nigeria discussed options that are available for Nigeria – and Nigerians as the nation strives to surpass the burdens created by incessant power outages. Exhibitors from over 15 countries exhibited products focusing on power generation, protection against lightning, renewable energy solutions, legal nuclear power solutions and those focusing on maximizing water as a source of power supply.

Backed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Council (NERC), the conference provided the right platform for stakeholders in the power sector to interact and consider options that could be the fulcrum upon which Nigeria’s power sector would revolve in the nearest future.

Participants at the conference that spoke to Digital Lagos believe the best way for Nigeria to overcome its power challenges is to consider a wide array of options and decentralize the current system in which almost everyone is relying on the national grid that is also determined by so many factors. Strong case was made for the development of cheaper solar power generation solutions.

Free training sessions were also held and participants were engaged in discussions on best international practice and how to perfectly localize the solutions that worked outside Nigeria so that in the nearest future, Nigerians will be able to enjoy reliable and safe power supply.

Plans are already underway for next year’s edition.

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