Teddy Oscar, Abuja
A power poll conducted by NOIPolls Limited in Quarter 1 (Q1) of 2014 revealed that 18 percent of Nigerians did not received any power supply between January and March.
According to a statement released by NOIPolls in Abuja, six in 10 Nigerian households received less than five hours of power supply daily within the period under review.
Another key finding by the poll is that an average of 79 percent of Nigerians used alternative sources to augment their power supply.
The result of the poll, which was released on Tuesday, observed that 72 percent of those, who used alternative sources to augment their power supply, reported that they experienced an increase in their spending on these alternative sources.
“Power sector poll results released by NOIPolls Limited for the first quarter of 2014 have revealed that an average of 63% (43%+20%) of Nigerians have experienced no improvement in their power supply, with 43% who experienced a worsened state and 20% having no difference at all.
“More findings revealed that an average of 63% (45%+18%) received less than 5 hours of continuous power supply daily with the majority (45%) receiving between 1-4 hours of continuous power daily and 18% receiving zero (0) hours of power supply.
“To this effect, an average of 79% of Nigerians use alternative sources to augment their power supply, and of this group, majority (72%) reported they experienced an increase in their spending on these alternative sources.
“Also observed was the decline of power supply to households over the quarter as those that experienced any improvement in their power supply fell from 44% in January to 37% in March 2014,” the statement read.
The statement noted that the aim of the power sector reform by the Federal Government is to improve efficiency, encourage private sector involvement to fortify the power sector, which is considered as Nigeria’s priority platform for development.
“The Nigerian power sector saw an achievement of a milestone in the completion of the privatisation process, however, in the post privatisation era; the power sector continues to encounter several challenges,” it added.
Prof. Chinedu Ositadimma Nebo, minister of power, who revealed that one of such issues is the issue of adequate gas supply to power plants, observed that the non availability of gas is the top most challenge facing the power sector.
