Power Supply Worsened During Privatisation Process

Power poll results released by NOIPolls Limited for the Fourth Quarter of 2013 have revealed that although power supply to households worsened in the fourth quarter, nevertheless majority of Nigerians (70%) are hopeful about the on-going reform in the power sector.

More findings revealed that an average of 46% of Nigerians received between 1-4 hours of continuous power supply daily, while 17% said they have received absolutely “No Light” in their households.

These were the key findings from the Power Snap Poll conducted in Quarter 4 (Q4), 2013.

“In the Fourth Quarter of 2013, the Nigerian power sector saw an achievement of a milestone as the privatisation process, initiated to reform the power sector was taken to the next level. 

This involved the final hand over of 11 power distribution and five generation companies, created out of PHCN which was regulated by the Nigerian Electricity Regulation Commission (NERC), to their private owners on behalf of the Federal Government.

This implies that in the new era for the power sector, privately owned generating companies will sell directly to distribution companies, which finally gets power to consumers,” NOIPolls said.

With the aim of monitoring the progress made so far in the power sector reforms in Nigeria, NOIPolls introduced the Power Polls in April 2013 to explore the perception of Nigerians towards the power sector reforms, the amount of power supply received daily and expenditure on alternative sources of power. This results presented is 3rd in the series for 2013.