The federal government has been encouraged to prioritize local solutions to address the persistent grid collapses affecting the country’s power sector.
Mr. George Onafowokan, Managing Director of Coleman Wires and Cables Industries Limited, made this call in response to the ongoing power grid failures and the government’s push to attract investments in the energy sector.
Onafowokan emphasized the need to industrialize the power sector and highlighted the importance of deregulating the industry. He acknowledged that locally manufactured products may come at a higher cost due to production challenges, but stressed that achieving meaningful progress in the sector requires policies driven by the private sector.
He stated, “We need to industrialize the sector. Obsolete wires and cables must be replaced, and all materials for transmission and power projects should be sourced locally. The country has more than enough capacity to meet and exceed its needs.”
Onafowokan also reflected on the long-standing challenges in the sector, expressing sympathy for the current government, which inherited these issues. “Solving the electricity crisis isn’t something that can be fixed overnight. After we returned to democracy, we started well, but complacency set in after eight years,” he said.
