Shettima: Decentralisation of Electricity Will End National Grid Collapse

*NEC orders audit of Nigeria’s waterways, dams

Deji Elumoye in Abuja

Vice President Kashim Shettima disclosed that the National Economic Council (NEC) will adopt measures to speed up the decentralisation of the national grid, with a view to putting an end to incessant collapse that had plunged some states in the north into total darkness.

Shettima listed some of the measures for the decentralisation of the national grid to include the establishment of mini-grids, solar and renewable energy sources, like solar photovoltaic and wind turbines.

Speaking at the 145th NEC meeting on Thursday, at State House, Abuja, Shettima, who is Chairman of NEC, said the burden of accountability had compelled the government to never look away from the issues.
He stressed the urgent need for the implementation of the Nigeria Energy Sector Implementation Plan (NESIP), emphasising that the energy sector must embrace the potential of renewable energy, as well as leverage solar and mini-grid solutions designed to meet regional electricity demands.

According to him, “A robust economy is the backbone of every nation. The recent blackouts caused by the actions of vandals remind us of our urgent need to expand our energy infrastructure. I believe the governors here would agree that the decentralisation of electricity is our path forward.
“We will continue to promote the constitutional framework that empowers constituent states within the Nigerian federation to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity in areas covered by the national grid. Together, we can make instability a relic of the past.

“Furthermore, our energy sector must embrace the potential of renewable energy. We must leverage solar and mini-grid solutions tailored to regional needs. I urge the Council to support the implementation of the Nigeria Energy Sector Implementation Plan (NESIP).
“If we capitalise on our diverse regional energy resources—from northern Nigeria’s solar potential to the south’s gas reserves—we can build a resilient, decentralised energy system that drives growth and empowers our communities.”

The vice president also said the tax reforms initiated by President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Administration will broaden the country’s revenue base, foster economic stability, and diminish dependency on specific sectors.
He said, “I must admit that the tax reforms initiated at the onset of this administration by His Excellency, President Bola  Tinubu, have opened avenues to address stakeholders’ concerns, particularly regarding VAT reform and its implications for sub-national revenues.

“As representatives of diverse interests, I have no doubt that you share a common aspiration: to broaden our revenue base, foster economic stability, and diminish our dependency on specific sectors,” he noted.
On Human Capital Index, Shettima cautioned that it is a tragedy that must be confronted following Nigeria’s low ranking.
“We grapple with alarming statistics related to life expectancy, maternal and child mortality, and educational attainment. We gather here today to redeem this dark reality through a series of deliberations and recommendations across various sectors, to be presented by participating specialists in government and by development partners.”
Shettima shed light on the progress made so far in the bid to mitigate flood disasters. He stated that the past few months had tested the strength of the solutions implemented to advance flood resilience.
According to him, “Although the floods caught many of us off guard in various parts of the nation, our proactive mitigation efforts have inspired sustainable strategies to address the extensive damage caused, including significant property losses and health risks.

“I commend the Minister of Water Resources and the Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for their foresight and swift action. Today invites us to reinforce our commitment to implementing approved mitigation measures, ensuring that states report their flood damages comprehensively, as outlined in our NEC Ad-hoc Committee report.”

NEC also addressed Nigeria’s flood crisis affecting 34 states, 217 local government areas, and over 1.3 million people.

Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Professor Joseph Utsev, reported 740,743 displaced individuals, 321 fatalities, and extensive property and farmland losses.

Council resolved that the Ministry of Water Resources should conduct an integrity review of all waterways and dams across the country. It urged state governments that had not done so to immediately submit their flood reports, stressing that the Green Climate Fund should have an infrastructure resilience fund component, and that all MDAs should immediately implement flood resilience and adaptation mechanisms.

Addressing newsmen, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State said the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation had briefed members of NEC on the federal government’s intervention activities across the country regarding the effect of this year’s flooding, which had become a major national disaster.

The water resources ministry had earlier identified 148 local government areas in the country, spanning 31 states, as high flood risk areas for 2024 beginning from April to

November.

According to Soludo, after receiving the presentation from the minister, NEC resolved that “the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation should conduct an integrity review of all the waterways and dams across the country.

“There was a serious emphasis on the need for a massive programme of dredging of the waterways. The council also urged governors who have not submitted their reports on the situation of flooding and management in their states to do so immediately.

“Council also noted that the Green Climate Fund should have an infrastructure resilient fund component and it was also noted that there are some critical parts of the country that are very massively ravaged by this flooding, particularly, the South-east/South-south that are completely omitted in the ongoing programmes of the construction of dams at least to act as speed bumps along the highways, particularly, in the River Niger.”

Soludo also said FEC considered the national emergency and the responses to the damages and the coordination taking place between the states and the federal government and outlined further steps that should be taken.

He stated, “To date, about 34 states have been affected, 217 local governments, 1, 374, 557 persons already affected. And 740, 743 persons were displaced nationwide and 321 persons dead 2,0845 injured, with 250, 800 cultivated farmlands also destroyed, affected by the rapid flood.”

The governor added that the council also reviewed the World Bank-supported SOLID project, presented by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu.

The project aims to bolster services and economic opportunities for IDPs and host communities in northern Nigeria, including initiatives for sustainable livelihoods and resilient infrastructure.

NEC urged cooperation among states and the World Bank to ensure funds meet designated project goals.