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Electric power failure is not at all a strange virus in the Nigerian power network. The main challenge in electric power sector is unreliability to its 4-5 million consumers. Its inadequacy has brought the country with a population of over 140 million into an incalculable loss of economies and prospective investors at large. The country’s populace has to concentrate on diesel and smaller units of generators. Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) became as a back up instead of the main supplier in the country. Notwithstanding, Nigeria is rated 7th country with overall transmission and distribution losses of 33.67% in 2005. This trend shall not be a modus. This paper however, analyses the generality of the 112 years old power sector that underwent continuous structural transformation to its present name, PHCN. The paper also identifies some shortcomings that militate against absolute system’s performance. Elemental suggestions as immediate system overhaul, replacement of obsolete facilities and completion of government approved projects on power sector were offered for sustainable economic growth.

Suggested ways for sustainable economic growth
It is true that Nigerian government has spent and is still spending a lot in the planning and forecast of the system over periods. So far, a lot of power projects have been proposed beyond 2000.
In the first and second generation, feasibilities studies were completed on 10,000MW generating stations comprising hydro, thermal and coal fired stations.
Many transmission lines at 330kV, 132kV and 33kV were proposed to transport the generated electrical energy in a doublee circuit.
The following items suggested ways forward to the Nigerian government on power sector reform.
i. Immediate rehabilitation of the existing generating stations. This is to ensure functionality and availability of all the existing  generating units.
ii. Emergency plan to refurbish and replace all vandalized transmission and distribution facilities.
iii. Continuous and sustainable manpower development that will include professional registration.
iv. Building smaller power plants evenly distributed around the nation.
v. Expansion of national grid and conversion of single line circuits to double line circuits.
vi. Provision of backup of the entire system. Replacement of obsolete facilities.
vii. Improving system security and reliability.
viii. A drastic regulation by NERC on a structured maintenance policy.
ix. Immediate reviving, completion and implementation of existing government approved power projects.
x. Stable regulatory and institutional environment that will provide continuous expansion of the industry as the population  increases.
xi. A good remuneration for the staff
xii. Sustainable funding.
xiii. Clear billing process.
xiv. Digitalization of the industry.
xv. Enough vehicles for the authority and helicopters for transmission line inspection.
xvi. Appropriate distribution plan and design.
xvii. Use of solar and wind energies as a supplement as pointed out by many researchers.

Conclusion
This writeup presents the overview and structural organization of Nigerian power sector. The challenges and the way forward for the sustenance of economic growth were highlighted. It is concluded that energy and knowledge are the fuels which are simultaneously necessary for every action of man such as for sustainable economical growth and industrialization [30]. Nigerian power sector found itself where it is today because of unwillingness and inability of saboteurs in the industry and sometimes government in converting the professional ideologies, plans and approved power projects into absolute reality. However, Nigeria will attract more investors and citizens will be more conformable technologically wise if the suggested items are adhered to.

Table 1: Rank Order - Electricity - production and consumption for the year 2005
S/No. Country Rank Production (kWh) Consumption (kWh)
1 Nigeria 69 22.53 billion 16.88 billion
2 Niger 174 234.1 million 437.7 million
3 Morocco 71 21.37 billion 20.67 billion
4 Zimbabwe 88 9.95 billion 12.27 billion
5 India 7 661.6 billion  488.5 billion
6 UK 13 372.6 billion 348.7 billion
7 USA 2 4.062 trillion 3.816 trillion
  World 1 18.58 trillion  est. 16.83 trillion  est.
Source: The CIA World Fact Book. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications
/the-world-factbook/rankorder/2038rank.htm [June 2008]

Table 2: Summary of Nigerian power sector
Electricity supply system 1972 1998
Generating capacity 532.6MW 5958MW
Nations peak demand 390MW 2446MW
Length of 330kV lines 1262km 5000km
Length of 132km lines 1012km 6000km
415 volts network 15000km 55143km
Source: Bureau of Public Enterprise, BPE website
 http://www.bpeng.org [June, 2008]

Table 3: IPP projects in Nigeria
Date  Location Company Capacity (MW) Initiating government
July 2000 Lagos  AES(ex-Enron) 270 Lagos
N/A Abuja  ABB 450 Federal
August 2000 Port Harcourt  Siemens 276 
April 2000 Kwale Eni/Agip 450 
N/A Bonny Exxon/Mobil 388 
N/A Enugu  Escom 2000 
March 2001 3 locations in rivers state N/A 180 Rivers
Source: Ademola Ariyo and Afeikhena Jerome (2004):
utility privatization and the poor: Nigeria in focus, HBS Global Issues papers
No. 12 July 2004.
Feel free to post your comment on the ways you may proffer to tackle the bug disturbing the national electricity industry.