The Federal government today asked the United Nations for help to train a new crop of younger engineers who will man power stations under construction in a bid to improve electricity supply.
Minister of state for power Darius Ishaku said young engineers to succeed most of the “retiring and experienced hands in the sector” would ensure smooth transition.
Speaking during talks with the coordinator of the United Nations Systems in Nigeria, Dauda Toure, Ishaku said without immediate and strategic succession plan, the power stations under construction across the country might fail to meet the yearnings of the economy.
“Unless the widening capacity gap between the old generation of Engineers and the upcoming ones is immediately bridged, the new power stations would have difficulties in their required regular maintenance and servicing,” he said.
“The UN must come to Nigeria’s aid,” he emphasized.
Toure promised to promote assistance to Nigeria, saying “anything done to Nigeria is a gift to the African Continent.”
Alternative energy
Despite the call for assistance, Nigeria remains determined to explore other sources of electricity, including renewable energy.
Nigeria’s electricity supply comes from a mix of hydro and thermal power stations.
But the minister of state for power spoke of government’s “rigorous pursuit of solar, coal and small hydro power plants to complement the thermal stations.”
Ishaku said “studies have been concluded on some renewable energy sources while feasibility studies are ongoing on a number of them.”
The country is also looking to instill a culture of energy conservation with a planned introduction of energy-saving light bulbs.
