By Michael Oche
Former Minister of Power, Goddy Jedy-Agba, has expressed optimism about the future of Nigeria’s power sector, despite ongoing challenges affecting electricity supply.
Jedy-Agba said Nigeria can achieve a stable and improved power supply with the right resources and sustained policies, noting that efforts to diversify energy sources beyond hydro and gas are already underway.
Speaking at an exclusive book signing of his memoir, “Grace Unspeakable,” the former minister, however, identified gas supply challenges as a major factor responsible for the country’s persistent electricity shortages.
According to him, the inability to pay gas producers has significantly affected power generation, as suppliers are unwilling to provide gas without guaranteed payment.
“The problem I hear now is they don’t have gas. If you don’t pay for gas, producers will not supply, and without gas, you cannot generate enough electricity,” he explained.
Jedy-Agba noted that during his time in office, the government ensured payments were made to sustain gas supply and boost electricity generation.
He, however, declined to directly assess the current administration’s handling of the sector, stating that it would be unfair to publicly judge his successors.
The former minister added that the groundwork for alternative energy development had already been laid before his exit from office in 2023, expressing confidence that ongoing efforts would yield positive results.
