Abuja: Vice President Kashim Shettima has announced that the National Economic Council (NEC) will implement measures to accelerate the decentralization of Nigeria’s national grid to prevent frequent collapses that have left several northern states in darkness. Speaking at the NEC meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, Shettima outlined plans to establish mini-grids and utilize renewable energy sources such as solar photovoltaic and wind turbines.
According to Voice of Nigeria, Vice President Shettima emphasized the importance of the Nigeria Energy Sector Implementation Plan (NESIP) and urged the energy sector to embrace renewable energy and leverage solar and mini-grid solutions to meet regional electricity needs. He highlighted the need for a robust energy infrastructure to support the nation’s economy and called for constitutional support to enable states to generate and distribute electricity independently.
Shettima also addressed ongoing tax reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, aim
ed at broadening the revenue base and promoting economic stability. He acknowledged the importance of these reforms in addressing concerns related to VAT and their impact on sub-national revenues.
On the Human Capital Index, the Vice President expressed concern over Nigeria’s low ranking and stressed the need for strategic interventions in life expectancy, maternal and child mortality, and education. He called for comprehensive discussions and recommendations to tackle these issues.
In terms of flood disaster management, Shettima noted the progress in mitigating flood impacts and praised the efforts of the Water Resources Ministry and National Emergency Management Agency. He emphasized the importance of reinforcing mitigation measures and comprehensive reporting of flood damages to ensure effective disaster response.