FG should remove power subsidy – Millwater Limited CEO, Nwoko

Just hearing me speak you would sense my passion for the power sector. So Millwater is one of one of the vehicles for discharging our burden for Nigeria’s power sector. I always tell people that as a nation, we have absolutely no reason to be where we are regarding our power needs. And why do I say so? Nature. God in His infinite mercy has given to us everything we need to produce the power requirement for a beautiful nation. We have a high amount of sunlight, hydro, we have mineral resources, gas, oil. We also have coal- to generate the power necessary for Nigeria as a nation.

So, when we see the deficit in the power requirement, coupled with the economic losses that come from it, it gives us the burden.

That was why we started Millwater Energy Solutions. As an individual, this journey started about two decades ago. But as a company; this particular aspect of the business was put together about two or three years ago.

We started to put the work into this aspect of consulting and expediting the power sector three years ago.

I would say it is interesting and very exciting. Maybe because we are people full of faith in the possibilities that exist.  I have given a premise that we are abundantly favoured by nature, right? So, we see the possibilities and the recent developments in the power space have also pointed to the fact that the promise of the future we are looking at is coming together.

I’m talking about the bills and all of the regulations that are being currently passed.  So, we are at a point where we are trying to put boots on the ground and put in the work. For this sector to work; we must roll up our sleeves. The plans have to leave the boardroom.

The plans have to leave the pages of fine presentations to boots on ground. Where are the gaps? And how do we fill them?  Who do we need? What resources are necessary? And what role can we play as third parties, working with the government and other people within this space to make sure that power is accessible to the average Nigerian?

Millwater is already in talks with the Federal Government through the Niger Delta Power Holding Company to sell some captive power to consumers around the Agbara axis. Could you shed more light on the project?

It recently became necessary that our presence be in the media space, but ordinarily, as expeditors, ours is to make things work while others become our face out there. Our relationship with the NDPHC is that of partnership to enable further sales of stranded power within the grid. Against popular belief, though we know that the generation capacity in Nigeria; there is a deficit based on the ratio of the generation to the population, but still; the one being generated has not been fully optimised. So, we are in partnership with NDPCH as expeditors in the space to help them, working with the distribution companies to evacuate excess power we have within the grid.

How far have you gone with the project?

We flagged off our maiden project in Agbara where the Vice President, Senator Shettima, had a one-day industrial visit to the industries in Agbara. That visit was an eye-opener to our crusade in the last two years. Actively, we have been on the crusade that there are people who are willing to do what it takes to get grid power to them, so that they can focus on their core business and not have the day-to-day hassles of trying to ensure they generate power for themselves. Because if you’re not in the business of generating power for yourself, no matter the systems you put in place, it is going to be a distraction to your core business.