TheNewsGuru

Tag: Power Supply

  • World Bank approves $750m loan to boost power supply in Nigeria

    The World Bank has approved $750 million International Development Association (IDA) credit for Nigeria’s Power Sector Recovery Operation (PSRO), to improve electricity supply.

    The Bank, in a statement in Abuja on Wednesday, said that the would help Nigeria achieve financial and fiscal sustainability and enhance accountability in the power sector.

    It explained that about 47 per cent of Nigerians do not have access to grid electricity and those who had access, faced regular power cuts.

    According to the bank, the economic cost of power shortages in Nigeria is estimated at around $28 billion, which is equivalent to two per cent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

    It stated that getting access to electricity is one of the major constraints for the private sector according to the Ease of Doing Business report.

    It added that improving power sector performance, particularly in the non-oil sectors of manufacturing and services, would be central to unlocking economic growth post COVID-19.

    Shubham Chaudhuri, World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, said “lack of reliable power has stifled economic activity and private investment and job creation.

    ”This is ultimately what is needed to lift 100 million Nigerians out of poverty.

    “The objective of this operation is to help turn around the power sector and set it on a fiscally sustainable path. This is particularly urgent at a time when the government needs all the fiscal resources it can marshal to help protect lives and livelihoods amid the COVID-19 pandemic”.

    The bank said that PSRO would provide results-based financing to support the implementation of the Government’s Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP).

    It further explained that the PSRP was a comprehensive programme to restore the power sector’s financial viability, improve service delivery and reduce its fiscal burden.

    “The PSRO is expected to increase annual electricity supplied to the distribution grid, enhance power sector financial viability while reducing annual tariff shortfalls and protecting the poor from the impact of tariff adjustments.

    “This will enable the turnaround of power sector while helping the Federal Government to redirect large fiscal resources from highly regressive tariff shortfall financing towards critical crisis-responsive and pro-poor expenditures. It will also increase public awareness about ongoing power sector reforms and performance.

    “Specifically, the PSRO will ensure that 4,500 mwh/hour of electricity is supplied to the distribution grid by 2022 by strengthening the regulatory, policy and financing framework.

    “It will also enhance the accountability and financial viability of the sector, helping the sector create a track record of sustainable operation necessary for unlocking much needed private investments in the future,” the Bank explained

  • Easter: DisCo assures South East zone of improved, steady power supply

    The Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) has assured people in the South East zone of the country of improved, steady power supply during Easter.

    The company gave the assurance on Friday, in a statement by its Head of Corporate Communications, Mr Emeka Ezeh.

    The company said that its technical team was ready to attend to any fault that might occur during Easter.

    It added that its cash offices would be open to customers on Good Friday, Saturday, and Easter Monday, between the 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

    “Customers are equally encouraged to make use of the convenient, easy, and safe electronic payment channels to pay their energy bills or recharge their meters during the holiday period.

    “For those that might want to report faults, lodge complaints or make enquiries, they are encouraged to use the 24/7 Call Centre, email and social media platforms to do so.

    “To reach the Call Centre, customers should dial: 084 700 100; send Email to: customerservice@enugudisco.com or follow us on our Social media platforms (Twitter and Facebook: @enugudisco; Instagram: @enugu_disco).

    “For accident and emergency issues, customers are advised to call: 0815 082 4301,’’ it said.

    The company reassured customers of the company’s commitment to delivering improved services.

    “EEDC uses the occasion of Easter celebration to wish her esteemed customers a happy Easter holiday, as they commemorate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ,’’ it added.

  • COVID-19: Reps seek two-month free power supply to Nigerians

    COVID-19: Reps seek two-month free power supply to Nigerians

    The House of Representatives is to consider a fresh Stimulus Bill that will ensure that Nigerians get free electricity supply for two months to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, Speaker Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila has said.

    The Speaker said the proposed Bill is to help in boosting the economy through the informal sector as the country prepares for the aftermath of the coronavirus.

    The proposed Bill, which will be the second Stimulus Bill by the Green Chamber, is to be considered immediately the House reconvenes from its ongoing break, declared due to the pandemic.

    It has, however, been agreed by the leadership of the National Assembly that the resumption date, initially slated for April 7, will be extended by one week in compliance with government’s 2-week stay-at-home policy.

    Gbajabiamila spoke at the National Assembly on Saturday during a meeting between the National Assembly leadership and the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmad, the Director-General of the Budget Office of the Federation, Ben Akabueze, among others.

    The Senate President, in his opening remarks, noted that the meeting, the second in about 10 days, was a testimony of the commitment of both arms of government at addressing the issues holistically.

    He assured that the Nigerian parliament would perform its constitutional roles towards ensuring that Nigerians benefit from all efforts aimed at mitigating the effects of the disease.

    While noting that Nigerians must be assisted to weather the storm of the virus, Lawan added that critical decisions needed to be taken but must be legal, which makes it important that the legislature is part of the entire process.

    On his part, Gbajabiamila said the country could not afford to be unprepared for the effect of Covid-19 on its economy.

    Explaining the necessity for the proposed stimulus bill for the electricity sector, the Speaker said electricity, being a commodity consumed by every household, has a greater effect on the people and that since more Nigerians are in the informal sector, the effects would be more felt by the economy.

    “The issue of electricity, you’ll agree, because the Minister did say that she has been inundated by the public, just as we are, on several suggestions and ideas and I am almost a hundred percent sure that, from those ideas will be the issue of some kind of shelter, as far as electricity is concerned.

    “It is one thing that will touch every household. As I said earlier, when we engaged, I discussed with the electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos) that packaged whatever they would require, if the government can give them, for us to allow for two months free electricity for Nigerians, they would be able to guarantee it.

    “We have the figures. I think we should look very seriously into that as part of our package for economic stimulus, because stimulus means something that will stimulate the economy. When you are stimulating the economy, most of it will come from the informal sector.

    “When you are saving people their electricity and the fact that they now have stable electricity for two months, you are also saving the monies that would go into the payment of those bills at least for two months.”

    On the need by the Executive arm to source for funds in the fight against coronavirus and its socio-economic effects, the Speaker restated the determination of the National Assembly to partner the Executive in efforts aimed at mitigating the effects of the disease on Nigerians and the economy.

    He, however, noted that all government funds and private donations must be transparently accounted for.

    He said: “Definitely, you will be taking loans from the Special Accounts, and as the Senate President said, it has to be backed by law, which again emphasizes the need to collaborate as earlier stated by the Minister.

    “There has to be a collaboration. It cannot be a unilateral decision from the National Assembly; it can’t be a unilateral decision from the Executive; there has to be a collaboration. I’m glad that we are on that trajectory.

    “I’m glad that my earlier discussion with the Honourable Minister on food and other items seized by the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS) has been taken care of, as stated by the Minister.

    “We need to, as soon as possible, and let the public know. On the issue of Presidential Task Force (PTF), none of us here, I don’t think any legislator can point to, who exactly is in charge. Where does the buck stop?

    “Who is in charge of the disbursement? Who is in charge of the distribution of cash? Who decides what money goes where?

    “Now, it is incumbent on the National Assembly to follow the money. Constitutionally, any money that comes into Nigeria, there has to be oversight.

    “That is why, we in the House have directed our Committees on Health, Disaster Management and Preparedness and Donor Agencies to talk to the PTF, talk to the Minister of Health and the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    “I wrote letters to all these people, but I wasn’t sure where exactly the buck stops. We need to clearly define exactly who is handling the money, who is handling what?

    Gbajabiamila also urged the Finance Minister and her team to consider all options put forward by experts on preparation against the economic effects of coronavirus outbreak.

    Earlier, the Minister for Finance, said among other measures, the establishment of a N500bn Covid-19 Crisis Intervention Fund is on the table.

    She said the money is expected to be raised from various Special Funds and Accounts in consultation with and with the approval of the National Assembly.

    The intervention fund will be utilized to finance the Federal Government’s support to state in improving their healthcare facilities and also finance the creation of a Special Public Works Programme

    She also explained the need to revisit the 2020 national budget has become imperative, saying, “It has been established that Nigeria is currently facing significant fiscal risks due to the worsening global economic outlook.

    “Specifically, Nigeria is highly vulnerable to the current global economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 crisis; and exposed to the risks of both a pronounced decline in oil prices and spikes in risk aversion in the global capital markets.”

  • Coronavirus lockdown: Ada Ameh weeps, laments over power supply[VIDEO]

    Coronavirus lockdown: Ada Ameh weeps, laments over power supply[VIDEO]

    Renowned actress, Ada Ameh took to her Instagram page on Tuesday, lamenting how things have gone worse for Nigerians amidst the coronavirus crisis.

    The veteran role interpreter noted that Lagosians have been asked to stay at home, yet there is no power supply.

    Towards the end of the video shared on her Instagram page, the actress shed uncontrollable tears.

    According to her: “Let there Be LIGHT… as we stay at home &try as much as we can to do the needful fighting this common Enemy of the globe. Coronavirus(covid19) please ask all the federal government to give us constant Light. This will also encourage people &not feel too bad at this point in time”.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-ZRFmkhL9L/

     

    TheNewsGuru recalls that in an interview the veteran actress stated that she is lucky to have gotten into the industry at a point when filmmakers want them to compromise.

    I always say that I am one of the lucky ones who got in at a time when there was no request from producers to compromise myself. The challenges that come with the job are there but for the part of misbehaving just to be an actress, I don’t and have never faced that. There’s also a lot of stereotyping in the industry and some potential have not been tapped. For me, I can take on any role. The director has his work to do and I have mine.

  • Good News! ‘FG sets aside $1.61bn for 24-hour power supply’

    The Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Alhaji Usman Gur says the Federal Government in collaboration with international donor agencies has set aside over 1.61 billion dollars to ensure constant power supply in the country.

    Gur, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the TCN revealed this on Sunday in Kano while briefing newsmen at the Kumbotso power sub-station.

    According to him, the project will be carried out under the Transmission Rehabilitation Expansion Programme.

    “We are rehabilitating and expanding to degree 20, 000 Mega Watts by 2022 across the country,” he said.

    He noted that, the federal government has already earmarked about N32 billion to compensate Nigerians whose lands, houses and farms could be affected by the Righ-Of-Way to create Power Lines for the execution of the project.

    “The total amount that we are going to pay for compensation across the country is about N32 billion. And the total project cost is 1.61 billion dollars. The project will be supported by various international donors.

  • FG budgets $1.61bn for 24-hour power supply

    FG budgets $1.61bn for 24-hour power supply

    The Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Alhaji Usman Gur says the Federal Government in collaboration with international donor agencies has set aside over 1.61 billion dollars to ensure constant power supply in the country.

    Gur, who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the TCN revealed this on Sunday in Kano while briefing newsmen at the Kumbotso power sub-station.

    According to him, the project will be carried out under the Transmission Rehabilitation Expansion Programme.
    “We are rehabilitating and expanding to degree 20, 000 Mega Watts by 2022 across the country,” he said.

    He noted that, the federal government has already earmarked about N32 billion to compensate Nigerians whose lands, houses and farms could be affected by the Righ-Of-Way to create Power Lines for the execution of the project.

    “The total amount that we are going to pay for compensation across the country is about N32 billion. And the total project cost is 1.61 billion dollars. The project will be supported by various international donors.

    “The compensation for right-of-way from Kumbotso sub-station to Rimi Zagara will cost about N3 billion. We have not completely validated it. The total cost for compensation across the country being provided by the Federal Government, ” he said.

    Gur who is also the chairman of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) Committee Executive Board stated that he led the TCN team to Kano to validate and look at the route that ran from the Kumbotso Transmission sub-station to Rimi Zakara.

    “You know we are going to connect Rimi Zakara to this sub-station (Kumbotso). Rimi Zakara is the place we are putting another 330 KV Sub-station, just like this one in Kumbotso.”

    “The mistake that happened in the past is that we normally award contract for line without doing the study. You know the study will establish who are the people under the right-of-way; and who are those people that are going to be affected by the lines.

    “So, we are supposed to have come up with those people and pay them their compensation.

    “Unfortunately, this contract was awarded many years, even before I came. It is not only this one, many of them are like that. They awarded the contracts without the payment of compensation.

    “That is why now, we are trying to pay the compensation, we are validating it, but we also need to tell people that this takes time, because right now, we have over 1000 people who need to be compensated within Kano alone.

    “That is why I am here, I will go through the routes and see exactly what are in the right-of-way. We are actually collaborating with Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje because some people who have land on the right-of-way are seeking for relocation.

    “We are going to request to the governor to relocate them and give them land in some other places so that we can build the line,” he said.

    According to him, “what we are doing for Kano state, actually is that we are trying to change the game. It is what you call game changer. Right now, the only line that supplies Kano is the 330 Single-Sighted Line that run from Kaduna to Kano.

    “We are bringing a Code Line from Kaduna to Kano. Now, you know we need to get a source of supply to transport the line from Kaduna to Kano. When I came newly in February, 2017, the line between Jos and Kaduna was funded only 10 per cent, but today the line is 98 per cent completed.

    “That means we have bulk power at the double-sighted line apart from the Single-sighted line from Jos to Kaduna. Then from Shiroro to Kaduna, we have two Single-sighted lines; none of them can carry more than 300 Mega Watts.

    “We are taking one of them and we are going to construct it into a Code Line, ” he said.

    He further explained that those projects, particularly, the one from Shiroro to Kaduna, the procurement of that line is about 80 Per Cent completed and it is funded by French Development Agency.

    Gur added that from Kaduna to Kano, TCN is building a Code Line, adding that the public information, this is the first time in the history of Nigeria that TCN is doing 330 Code Line.

    He said this mean it is going to carry, four Conductors per pair, which is expected to bring 2,400 Mega Watts of power.

    “Now, I will also want to tell you that we want to change the game here completely. So, there is a line we are building from Kainji to Birnin Kebbi, Benin Kebbi to Sokoto; and also from Katsina to Daura, Daura to Gwiwa and from Gwiwa to Jogana. That line is also funded by AFD that is French Development Agency.

    “In fact, the line from Katsina to Daura, Daura to Gwiwa, Gwiwa to Jogana is going to evacuate the Solar IPP in Gwiwa which is going to be the like of the Marrakech Solar IPP in Morocco”, Gur assured.

    According to him, on that line, the European Union gave the TCN a grant, which is free money for the Nigerian government, worth about 25 million Euros.

    “Now we are working to close the link between Sokoto to Kaura Namoda, and Kaura Namoda to Katsina. Now, if you complete this line from Kumbotso Sub-station to Rimi Zakara, that line also went to Katsina; which means from Kainji, you can feed Kano through Sokoto, Katsina, Daura and Gwiwa.

    “We also have another line that is coming from Kaduna to Kano. I also want to tell you that we sent a proposal to the West African Power Pool, and it was approved by the Committee of Heads of State and Government on Dec. 22, 2018 where President Muhammadu Buhari chaired that meeting.

    “We have approved another line that will come from Calabar. It will come from Ikon to Ogoja to Kasimbula, to Mambilla,bto Jalingo, down to Yola, and move to Hong, to Biu, to Damaturu, Potiskum, Azare, to Dutse, and then to Jogana in Kano.

    “This is another 330 Double-sighted line. This very line is under what we call multi-national project. This project is under the ECOWAS project.

    He explained that government is working towards launching the study.
    “This is what I have pre-planned before I left Abuja to Kumbotso sub-station here in Kano.

    “This means we are going to have another Double-sighted line that will come to Kano, which means Kano will be supplied from three sources: through Sokoto, through Kaduna, and then through Calabar.

    “When this is done, it then means that we have solved the problem of bulk electricity supply to Kano, and this is what we are doing. And that will place Kano on a status we call MNS2, meaning if 2, 330KV Double-sighted line goes out, Kano will still receive supply of electricity,” he said.

    He added:“however, I will require the support of the people of Kano because all these things we are doing need some level of sacrifices from the good people of Kano state, because definitely, those lines will pass through people’s houses, lands, and farms.

    “Therefore, people have to make sacrifice. When you don’t make sacrifice, there is no way we can solve the problem of electricity.

    “I can tell you that the difference between development and lack of development or the difference between poverty and prosperity in any part of the world is actually electricity; and that is why we are doing all these so that we can solve the problem of electricity in Kano,” he said.

  • TCN gets $1.6 billion to boost power supply in Nigeria

    The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), says it has received 1.661 billion dollars from multi-lateral donors to boost power supply in the country.
    Mr Usman Mohammed, the Managing Director of TCN made this known at the organisation’s quarterly news conference in Abuja on Thursday.
    Mohammed said that TCN had raised significant amount to reinforce the system under the critical investment programme.
    “As at today, the amount we have raised from multi-lateral donors has risen to 1.661 billion dollars to execute some power projects in the country.
    “These projects include the Abuja Wheeling Scheme that will bring five sub-stations and bring a new supply route to the territory.
    “The new route will be from Lafia to Abuja with 330 Kilo Volt (KV) line and two 330KV sub-stations in Abuja and put addition three numbers 132 KV sub-stations in the territory,’’ he said.
    He said that the contract for the project had been signed and divided into six slots, adding that 10 contractors had been pre-qualified.
    According to Mohammed, the company has also recovered 775 power equipment containers out of 800 abandoned at the ports due to tariff related issues, while two have been declared missing, and two empty.
    “We discovered that two containers were missing and we have reported to the police and they are investigating the matter,’’ he said.
    He, however, did not tell the contents or the value of the missing containers, but pledged to work with his team to recover them.
    Mohammed explained that TCN “is going to recover about 2,000 to 3,000mw with the present upgrade of its equipment.
    “Which automatically means the grid will shift from 8,000MW to at least 10,000 MW,’’ he said.
    The TCN boss said that the company had used their staff to forcefully take over some contracts and those contracts were at the point of completion.
    He noted that in spite of the massive investment so far recorded by the sector from the transmission end, the distribution companies were yet to match it with a proportional upgrade of their equipment.
    This, according to him, is responsible for the frequent system collapses in the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry.

  • Stop complaining your epileptic power supply to me, Fashola tells Nigerians

    Stop complaining your epileptic power supply to me, Fashola tells Nigerians

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has said he is not directly responsible for the epileptic power supply currently experienced in some parts of the country.

    Fashola, who disclosed this while speaking at the Nextier Power Dialogue on Wednesday night in Abuja, told his listeners that there were problems in the power sector, but reminded them that it was not the Federal Government’s problem if citizens in the country do not have electricity, especially since the sector was privatised.

    He said, “There are problems without a doubt and we must deal with them. But let me remind you, all of the assets that the Ministry of Power used to control for power have been sold by the last administration before I came. And so if you don’t have power, it is not the government’s problem. Let us be honest.

    “The people who are operating the power sector, generation and distribution are now privately owned companies. I am here because I am concerned. If your telephone is not working, it is not the minister of communication that you go to. Let us be very clear.”

    The minister added, “So for those of you who want to weaponise electricity, face the businessmen who have taken it up. Let us be honest. If your bank over-charges you interest, is it the minister of finance you go to? So let’s be clear. This is now a private business by Act of parliament 2005.

    “My role is regulatory, oversight and policy, but I have a problem which is the fact that I can’t see a problem and turn my back, so I’m getting involved. So the people you should be talking to about transformers is not me, the ministry doesn’t supply transformers anymore.”

    Fashola further defended his position after another participant at the dialogue insisted that the minister supervises the ministry and that the Gencos and Discos were players under the FMPWH.

    Taking a cue from the analogy given by the participant while answering the question asked, the minister said, “I think that NERC (Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission) is the referee of the game. I am FIFA (Federation of International Football Association). And it is not right as you said that FIFA gets involved, because whether the referee makes a mistake or not the goal stands.

    “So the FIFA man does not enter the field to say go and change the result, but it’s an interesting analogy that I’ve also contemplated in my head and that’s why you didn’t catch me by too much surprise. However, it is important to allow the referee to continue to decide the game because investors like to know who decides.”

  • Power supply: Ogunlewe calls for decentralisation of electricity generation

    Power supply: Ogunlewe calls for decentralisation of electricity generation

    A former Minister of Works, Chief Adeseye Ogunlewe, has called for the total decentralisation of electricity generation and transmission in order to improve supply in Nigeria.

    Ogunlewe, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos, said the current system in which electricity was transmitted from the national grid would not guarantee constant electricity supply.

    The ex-minister said that electricity transmission through the national grid was an obsolete system in today’s world, saying that the norm was for states and companies to generate and transmit electricity directly to consumers.

    “A major reason why we have not achieved sufficiency in electricity supply is that we still stick to a system where we generate electricity and everything must go to the national grid to get to the consumers.

    “That system is obsolete and will not guarantee steady electricity supply. The model in countries that have achieved constant supply is decentralisation.

    “Decentralisation in such a manner that federating units can produce and distribute to people.

    “Why can’t Rivers, Ogun and Kano States build power plants and give electricity? Why should they have to go through the national grid? Why can’t companies be allowed to do same?

    “The fact is that the current system cannot get us to the desired place.

    “There must be a review of the relevant laws to allow generation and transmission of power from multiple sources for direct use by the people,” he said.

    The ex-minister urged Nigerians to imbibe the culture of energy conservation for optimal use of the limited megawatts generated.

    Ogunlewe, also a former Managing Director, the Federal Emergency Road Management Agency (FERMA), said there was urgent need to fix bad portions on the highways to ease movement.

    He urged the government to explore the tolling option to fund the maintenance of Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and other major highways.

    “The truth is that we can’t maintain and reconstruct major highways without using public funds such as tolls.

    “Look at Lagos-Ibadan Expressway for instance; thousands of people use that road everyday, so it can maintain itself.

    “All we need to do is to introduce tolling and entrust that job to people with capacity.

    “We will get the money to spend on maintenance and save public funds for other things,’’ Ogunlewe said.

  • Epileptic power supply: SERAP gets court order against Fashola

    Epileptic power supply: SERAP gets court order against Fashola

    Anti-corruption group, Socio-Economic and Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), on Tuesday got court’s leave to file for a mandamus order against the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, over poor power supply in the country.
     
    The mandamus order is to compel Fashola to account for about N900bn sunk into the privatisation of the electricity sector in Nigeria without any positive result to show for it.
     
    The leave to seek mandamus order against Fashola was granted on Tuesday by Justice C.J. Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos.
     
    The leave followed an ex parte application filed and argued by SERAP’s lawyer, Ms Bamisope Adeyanju.
     
    The judge, after granting the leave, directed that Fashola should be put on notice while he adjourned the case till November 20.
     
    SERAP’s Deputy Director, Timothy Adewale, said the court’s ruling had brightened the prospect that Nigerians would finally get an explanation on why the country remained in darkness despite huge investment in the power sector by the Federal Government.
     
    SERAP seeks a mandamus order to compel Fashola “to account for the spending on the privatisation of the electricity sector and the exact amount of post-privatisation spending on generation companies, distribution companies and Transmission Company of Nigeria till date, and to explain if such spending came from budgetary allocations or other sources.”
     
    SERAP wants Fashola to be compelled “to provide specific details on the privatisation of the electricity sector, the names of all the companies and individuals involved; and to publish widely, including on a dedicated website, any such information.”
     
    The group said, “Most of the companies that won the bids had no prior experience in the power sector and little or no capacity at all to manage the sector.
     
    “The privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria has yielded the country total darkness. The gains of privatisation have been lost through alleged corruption, manipulation of rules and disregard for extant laws and lack of transparency in the exercise.”