The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, emphasized the need to combat electricity theft, vandalism of power assets, and other acts of sabotage hindering the growth of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). He made this call while declaring open the 2023 Annual Power Correspondents Association of Nigeria (PCAN) workshop in Abuja. The workshop's theme was "Resolving Nigeria’s Power Crisis: The implication of the Electricity Act 2023."

Chief Adelabu, represented by the Director of Transmission, Mr. Nosike Emmanuel, highlighted the significance of the 2023 Electricity Act in transforming the power sector. He noted that the Act has liberalized electricity generation, transmission, and distribution, empowering states, organizations, and individuals to participate in these aspects of the power industry.

The Minister stressed the importance of advocating against power theft, vandalization, and educating consumers against sabotage. He also mentioned the Act's prescription for the development of the Integrated National Electricity Policy and Strategic Implementation Plan, with a focus on a bottom-up approach to prioritize metering, distribution, and transmission infrastructure.

The Chairman of PCAN, Mr. Obas Esiedesa, expressed the workshop's intention to build the capacity of journalists covering the power sector and create an avenue for interaction between journalists and industry players and regulators. He called for a holistic review of the power sector privatization, particularly focusing on the distribution sector and consumers, citing the challenges faced despite significant installed capacity.

In summary, the workshop served as a platform for the Minister of Power to address the challenges facing the power sector and to emphasize the importance of the 2023 Electricity Act in transforming the industry. The call to combat electricity theft and vandalism, along with the focus on the distribution sector and consumers, reflects the ongoing efforts to improve electricity supply in Nigeria.

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