TheNewsGuru

Tag: Power Supply

  • Nigerians may not enjoy stable power supply in five-years – Electricity distributors

    The Association of Nigerian Electricity Distributors (ANED), says that Nigeria may not have stable power supply in the next five years except the challenges confronting the sector are addressed.

    Mr Sunday Oduntan, the Executive Director, Research and Advocacy of ANED disclosed this at a news conference in Lagos on Tuesday.

    According to Oduntan, there are challenges inhibiting power sector efficiency and they include liquidity gap of N1.3 trillion, lack of improved generation due to mismatched electricity pricing.

    “Lack of much needed investment in transmission and distribution network and rising energy theft among others.

    “Except these challenges are addressed, we may not have stable power supply in the next five years,’’ he said.

    Oduntan said that the illiquidity in the sector must be prioritised because the sector could not afford to collapse.

    “If the power sector collapses, many banks will collapse because in 2013 during privatisation, only one Distribution Company obtained foreign loan, others took loans from local banks in dollars.

    “Privatisation was based on 30 per cent equity and 70 percent loan.

    “The model was borrowed from New Delhi, India and it is working as we speak. If it is successful in India, why is it not working in Nigeria,’’ he added.

    Oduntan decried the prevalent non-reflective tariff and called on the government to prevail on the military, Ministries, Department and Agencies (MDAs) to pay for energy consumed.

    According to him, MDAs owe about N72 billion and the military has refused to pay since August 2017, when the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola say the Federal Government will settle all legacy debts by MDAs.

    “Afterwards, nothing has been paid by the military.

    “It is important to also state that the mismatch in electricity pricing has resulted into inability of the Discos to settle their obligations to the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Traders (NBET).

    “What we get from NBET is usually higher than what the Discos charge to consumers because we don’t have control over tariff.

    “Government determines what we charge power consumers.

    “Until we have a review of electricity tariff which ought to have been taken place every six months, there can’t be cost-reflective tariff and without cost reflective tariff, Discos can’t settle their debts to NBET.’’

    On the controversies surrounding eligible customers’ policy, Oduntan argued that tariffs for industrial consumers were structured to be subsidised.

    “The eligible customer policy will take the industrial customers off the Discos’ network and this will affect the revenue of the Discos.

    “If the policy will take away the industrial customers from the Discos’ network, then, there must be a review of the tariff to guarantee liquidity in the sector,’’ he said.

     

  • Obaseki unveils plan to facilitate steady power supply in Edo state

    The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has revealed the state government’s plans to strategically develop industrial layouts away from residential areas to ensure proportionate power supply to help actualize the state’s developmental plans.

    Obaseki disclosed this during an interview with journalists in Benin City, Edo State capital.

    According to him, “We have developed plans to help overcome the challenges of power distribution to industries, residential buildings and other users. This includes building areas of use, that is, developing industrial parks, housing estates and other clusters that can be directly connected to generating plants.”

    He said, “When these plans are fully achieved, the state would have steady power supply to support businesses and other users. With time, Benin City and other towns in the state will be better planned and segregated so that industrial use of power can be separated from domestic use.”

    “When this is done, the structural challenges along the chain of generation and distribution will then be reorganised and steady power supply will then be guaranteed,” he said.

    He explained that steady power supply cannot be achieved overnight until the structural impediments are addressed, noting, “Even if the issue of generation of power is addressed, efforts must be made to address issues mitigating distribution and transmission.”

    Obaseki said, “As long as we have determined people like the developers of Edo Azura Independent Power Plant (IPP), Edo state and Nigeria can become self-sufficient in power supply. As long as there is power generation, we will find a way to get it to users.

    “If we have people who know what they are doing like the developers of Edo Azura IPP, we will overcome issues of power supply. In terms of generation, I believe, given the resources available, hydro, thermal and green energy, we can generate all the electricity to power the state and country.”

     

  • Delta landlords petition Okowa, BEDC for illegal disconnection of power supply

    Landlords in Delta state under the aegis of Association of Landlords of Block VII, Phase V, Core Area, Asaba, have petitioned the state Governor Ifeanyi Okowa and the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) after the electricity distribution company allegedly illegally disconnected power supply to their area.

    In a strong worded petition addressed to the state governor for urgent intervention, the electricity consumers lamented that trouble started when BEDC officials led by Ernest on June 8, 2017 illegally disconnected power supply to the area.

    The letter which was also copied to the State Attorney-General & Commissioner for Justice, the State Director, Department for State Security, Asaba, the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command, the Delta State House of Assembly and host of others, stressed that if nothing is done to the constant harassment of residents of the area, they might be forced into self-help.

    “The lingering crisis between officials of the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) and electricity consumers of Block VII, Phase V of Asaba Core Area, Delta State, has worsened, as residents of the area may be forced to take laws into their hands if the head of BEDC in the state, Mr. Edgar Ernest, does stop intimidating residents of the area,” the petition read.

    A copy of the letter titled: “’Imminent Breakdown of Law and Order in Block VII, Core Area, Asaba: Petition against one Mr. Edgar Ernest and BEDC for their Lawlessness” which was signed by Mr. E. W. Ureki, and Mr. E. C. Okoro on behalf of the aggrieved landlords was obtained by our correspondent on Sunday.

    The petitioners in the letter accused Mr. Ernest of using security operatives to intimidate and harass residents in the area while going about unlawfully disconnecting electricity consumers in a bid to rope residents of the area in illegal connection.

    They specifically told Governor Okowa and security agencies that the activities of Mr. Ernest, who is the State Chief Head of BEDC, violates extant laws and directives of Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) which had earlier ordered him to reconnect the area to power.

    According to them, “On June 8, 2017, the said Distribution Company led by Mr. Edgar Ernest disconnected our supply lines to Dublina Hotel Transformer, including the Dublina Hotels, in a manner that grossly violated our rights to the enjoyment of electricity, same being in breach of the extant laws and regulations of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

    “The allegations by the Disco for disconnection were that we connected to the said Dublina Transformer illegally, that is, by ourselves, and engaged in electricity theft, which illegal connections led to unsafe connections and loss of revenue. We were slammed with different charges as being the value of their Energy we stole.

    “From our interactions with him (Edgar Ernest), we came to the conclusion that he suspected we did not have meters and were conniving with his officials to divert monies meant for the Disco. But we immediately rebutted it by producing our bills and evidence of our vending to him.”

    It stated that when efforts by residents to prevail on the BEDC Head to reconnect them to power failed, they took the matter before the Asaba Forum of the NERC, a body that is statutorily saddled with the responsibility of arbitration in disputes between the Disco and its consumers which ruled in their favour.

    Since B.E.D.C. could not provide proof of its allegations even after the extra days allotted it, the Forum, on the 14th of November, 2017 delivered its ruling which it had written on 9/11/2017 directing inter-alia: that the Disco re-connect us within 48 hours of service of the Ruling, and pay a penalty of N1,000.00 (One thousand naira) per day to each of the affected pre-paid meter customers.

    “The copies of the Ruling were served on B.E.D.C. on the 17th of November, 2017 by the Asaba Forum. Mr. Edgar Ernest was also served the same day. It is pertinent to recall Mr. Edgar’s braggadocio on the day of the Ruling, when he dismissed it as not being worth the paper on which it was written. He boasted that not even the N.E.R.C. Abuja can compel him or B.E.D.C., to restore our light.

    “Our worry is that BEDC and its Delta Chief State Head, Mr. Ernest Edgar seemed to be operating above the laws of the land and they are now using the Nigerian Police to harass, threaten and intimidate us whereas the Ruling of the Asaba Forum and the directive of the N.E.R.C. Abuja, explicitly asked B.E.D.C. to pay us compensation from June 8, 2017 when we were disconnected from the Dublina Hotel transformer, and re-connect us immediately”, the letter further read.

    While appealing to the governor to call Mr. Ernest and BEDC officials to order, they stressed that BEDC disobedience of the three Rulings of the Asaba Forum directing them to re-connect the area to light amounts to a gross violation of Section 63(1) of the Electricity Power Sector Reform 2005, and Conditions 4, and 50 of the Electricity Distribution License Terms and Conditions.

     

  • Epileptic power affecting growth of businesses in Nigeria – CBN

    Epileptic power affecting growth of businesses in Nigeria – CBN

    The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has identified epileptic power supply as a major hindrance to business growth in Nigeria.

    According to the CBN, the latest survey conducted by it on businesses in the fourth quarter of 2017 showed that 62.6 per cent of the surveyed firms identified inadequate supply of electricity as a major constraint to their activities.

    In the Business Expectations Survey Report for Q4 2017, the CBN stated that the surveyed firms confirmed poor power supply as a key problem, adding that other concerns highlighted by the respondents included unfavourable economic climate and unclear laws.

    The bank further noted that insufficient demand, high interest rate and competition were some other constraints to business activities in the fourth quarter of 2017.

    “The surveyed firms identified power supply (62.6 per cent), high interest rate (58.6 per cent), financial problems (56.8 per cent), unfavourable economic climate (46.1 per cent), unclear economic laws (42.7 per cent), insufficient demand (42.6 per cent) and competition (41 per cent) as the major factors constraining business activities in the current quarter,” the report stated.

    On exchange rate issues, the bank stated that majority of the respondent firms expected the naira to appreciate in the current and next quarters as the confidence indices stood at 1.1 and 39.2 points, respectively.

    It added that respondent firms expected the inflation rate to rise in the current quarter but fall in the next quarter, with confidence indices of 9.5 and -9.8 points for the first and second quarters of 2018, respectively.

    On some other highlights of the report, the bank stated that respondent firms expressed more optimism on the macro economy in the reviewed quarter when compared with the level recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2016.

    It stated that respondents’ outlook on the volume of total order, liquidity positions (financial conditions) in the last quarter of 2017 improved in relation to that of the corresponding quarter of 2016.

  • ‘Provision of uninterrupted power supply to university students not a mere street lighting project’

    ‘Provision of uninterrupted power supply to university students not a mere street lighting project’

    The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has said the Federal Government’s project aimed at rejuvenating the nation’s education system by providing uninterrupted power supply to a total of 37 federal universities and 7 university teaching hospitals is not a ‘mere’ project as depicted in some sections of the media.

    The Ministry’s reaction is coming in clarification to a report published in The Punch Newspapers in the light of the misrepresentation of the Programme as a mere “solar-powered streetlight project in nine universities across the country valued at N10bn.”

    Read the ministry’s full statement below:

    PROGRAMME TO PROVIDE UNINTERRUPTED POWER SUPPLY FOR UNIVERSITY STUDENTS, NOT A MERE ‘STREETLIGHTING’ PROJECT – MINISTRY

    The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing wishes to restate that the Energizing Education Programme (EEP) of the Federal Government is aimed at rejuvenating the nation’s education system by providing uninterrupted power supply to a total of 37 federal universities and 7 university teaching hospitals.

    This clarification has become necessary in the light of the misrepresentation of the Programme as a mere “solar-powered streetlight project in nine universities across the country valued at N10bn,” by the Punch newspaper while purportedly reporting the proceedings of the 2018 Budget Defense Meeting of the Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy attended by the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency on Thursday, 14th December 2017.

    The Punch Newspaper in a report, which first appeared in its Online version, claimed that the Senate “criticized a solar-powered streetlight project” thereby deliberately misrepresenting the Energizing Education Programme (EEP). Far from being a “streetlight” project, the EEP, in fact, seeks to rejuvenate the education system through electrifying a total of 37 federal universities and 7 university teaching hospitals, with Independent Power Plants (IPPS), which will boost effective learning, innovation and advancement through an uninterrupted power supply.

    In addition to helping to extend electrification to rural and underserved areas in which the institutions are located ultimately, the Programme will enable the institutions benefit from world-class training schools, for the training of students in renewable energy, as well as provide optimized security, for the safety and well being of students and staff, through the installation of streetlights on campus which is only a small component of the Project.

    Although implementation of this programme is led by the power sector, through the Rural Electrification Agency, the Vice Chancellors and the Ministry of Education have signed onto this as a critical investment in the education sector.

    The deliberate attempt to water down the significant impact this Programme will have on the enhanced education of Nigerian students is outright unpatriotic as it seeks to prevent the socio-economic development of our nation.

    In addition to the open and transparent coverage of the milestones attained preparatory to the take-off of the Project like the Meetings and signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the REA and the first set of participating tertiary institutions, the Ministry holds itself ready to provide further details to the media and any other interested entities to stem any further misrepresentation.

  • Kogi will experience steady power supply in 2018 – Official

    The Kogi Government on Saturday says it has achieved an appreciable success in rural electrification projects toward an improved electricity supply in 2018.

    Mr Otayitie Eminefo, the Special Adviser on Energy and Power to the governor told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja, that the State Government had invested heavily in assets’ distribution to improve power supply.

    “Kogi residents should expect more stable light in 2018; as Gov. Yahaya Bello’s administration is facilitating the completion of Ohunene, Okene, Idah, Anyigba NIPP to be completed in March 2018.

    “Government is also establishing mini-grid systems for the rural areas and many more projects to light up Kogi and to ensure better services from the Abuja Electric Distribution Company (AEDC) in 2018.

    “Kogi is home to two major power generation plants which will afford us the opportunity to present our immediate needs and to show the world our efforts in boosting and enlarging the power sector in the state.

    “The governor has also set up ‘Kogi Electricity Complaint Centre’ to ensure citizen’s rights are protected as enshrined in the law. We have recorded milestone feats in power sector that have not been well captured.

    “The recently-hosted 22nd Power Sector Stakeholders’ meeting by Kogi, has enabled stakeholders to see and assess the outstanding work done by the state and set timelines for completion of the rest,” Eminefo said.

    He said that the governor on June 23, 2017, inaugurated projects of a 33KVA Overhead Line Extension moving from Jamata to Zango-Daji Junction to Banda, expected to serve eight communities in Lokoja and Koton-Karfe Local Government Areas.

    The special adviser said: “The government has also supplied several 500/33KVA, 500/11KVA and 300/11KVA transformers and installation in various communities, and building Injection Sub-stations of 5MVA across the state.

    “The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is also proposing a 330KV line from Makurdi to Anyigba to ensure that Kogi people benefit from the upcoming Mambilla Hydro Project.’’

    Eminefo advised consumers against meter bypass and all forms of illegal connections, urging them to protect the facility against vandals, and to promptly pay their bills for effective and sustained services.

    NAN reports that Kogi Government on Dec. 11, hosted the 22nd Power Sector Monthly Meeting with power stakeholders and other participants at Geregu Power Plc in Ajaokuta.

     

    NAN

  • FG to increase power supply by 1,129 mega watts in 2018

    The Federal Government on Monday announced that when some power generation projects were completed by 2018, they could generate additional 1,129 Mega Watts to the current 7,000 Mega Watts in the country.

    The Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said this at the 22nd monthly meeting of stakeholders in the power sector at Geregu, Kogi.

    Fashola said “the Azura power plant will give us another 450MW; I know that we will also get 10MW of wind power from Katsina State.

    “I know that we will get 115MW from Gbari and 30MW from Kashimbila.

    “From Afam III, we will give 240MW of power in 2018, while Gurara is working to deliver 30MW, as Dadinkowa in Gombe will provide 29MM and Kaduna will generate 215 MW.

    “All these power plants do not involve the mini grids and solar systems that are coming.”

    The minister explained that in spite of the attainment of the current 7,000MW in the country, 2,000MW of the total power was not being distributed to Nigerians.

    He said it was important to devise means of taking the unutilised 2,000MW to Nigerians who needed power, noting that “we cannot afford to keep power; that is not good for business, especially those who invested in it.

    “One of the steps we are taking with the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPH) is to try and complete some of the distribution projects under theNigerian National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) projects.

    “In Kogi, the distribution project that will affect the people positively are the ones in Okene, Igba, which will be completed in the first quarter of 2018.”

    Fashola said the narrative must change from not enough power to how unutilised power could be distributed.

    He explained that he had contacted the President of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) to discuss how its members could key into the undistributed power.

    He added that “Director Generator, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and other chambers of commerce had been contacted on how to take up the 2000 unused megawatts

    “We are also working on how Distribution Companies (Discos) could benefit from the entire process.”

    The minister, who said the sector had made progress on power Generation and Transmission, added that Distribution issues would also be cleared soon.

    He attributed the success recorded in the sector so far to government polices, “especially the provision of N701 billion assurance guarantee fund that enabled the payment to gas suppliers by Generating Companies (Gencos).

    “The assurance guarantee brought confidence to power production business, which
    resulted to increased power production which took us to all-time high of 7,000MW
    power availability.”

    “As at Dec. 5, 2017, power supply stood at 5,019MW, which was below the 5,074 MW achieved in January 2016.

    “However, grid supplied power peaked at all-time high of 5,155 MW on Dec 8, an increase over the January 2016 figure of 5,074 MW.”

    He said the success was due to teamwork and leadership provided by President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice-President Yemi Osinbanjo and other stakeholders.

    He then urged stakeholders to join hands in solving the problems in the sector, saying it was a privilege to be involved in salvaging the challenges in the sector.

    The Managing Director of Geregu Power Plant PLC, Mr Aderemi Adenuga, said owners of the company injected 94 million Dollars to overhaul and upgrade the plant.

    He said the company was comfortably running the tree turbines in the plant and thanked Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET) for payment of the electricity generated to the company.

     

  • Inaccurate billing responsible for epileptic power supply in Nigeria

    Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said that the problem of irregular power supply in Nigeria is caused by inaccurate billing system resulting from insufficient metering machines.

    Osinbajo made the remarks on Saturday in Onna local government area of Akwa Ibom while inaugurating an Electric Metering Factory as part of activities marking the 30th anniversary of Akwa Ibom creation.

    The vice president said that Nigeria’s economic development hinged on effective power supply, lamenting that Distribution Companies (DISCOs) had not been able to collect tariffs because of non-availability of meters.

    “The electric metering factory is an important project. Inadequate power is the major obstacle to full economic development in Nigeria.

    “We have also identified the facts that DISCO is unable to collect tariffs effectively from consumers because we are unable to afford the cost of metering.

    “I think that there is an important policy innovation as there is no restriction on those who can actually produce meter for our consumers,” Osinbajo said.

    He commended the Akwa Ibom governor for establishing the metering factory, saying that the Federal Government was looking forward to other several factories across the country.

    “The country is open up for this kind of enterprise and we are looking forward to a lot more activities.

    “But we are looking at 2.7 million units of meters annually here and this is absolutely fantastic.

    “I know that job opportunities here will be substantial for a start,” Osinbajo said.

    In his speech, the Akwa Ibom governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, said that his administration was partnering with private sectors to put the state on the path of industrialization.

    Emmanuel said that the factory would manufacture an average of one million meters per year and thanked the investors for their confidence in the state.

    “The essence of this industry is to ensure power for all. Once you can buy recharge cards, you can have electricity, it is available for all.

    “The capacity can be doubled from 2.7 to 5.4 to enable us pay for the power that we generate.

    “The project is a private initiative for the betterment of all Akwa Ibom people and for Nigeria at large,” Emmanuel said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Vice President Osinbajo had also inaugurated a syringe manufacturing company constructed by a Turkish firm in partnership with the state government.

    The company is expected to produce 2ml, 5ml and 10ml disposable syringes respectively at an annual production capacity of 350 million units.

    The Etinan General Hospital refurbished by Gov. Emmanuel was also inaugurated by the vice president, who was the special guest of honour at the 30th anniversary of Akwa Ibom creation.

    The hospital had witnessed a facelift with modern facilities and wards fitted with new electrical beds, well equipped theatres to manage all kinds of surgeries and fully stocked pharmacies.

     

  • Improved power supply not caused by Buhari’s ‘body language’ – Fashola

    The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) has said the improved power supply noticed in the country is not caused by the president’s body language as claimed in some sections of the media.

    The minister explained that the notable changes were as a result of a change in the mentality of members of the Buhari administration.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that Fashola made the comments while speaking at The Guardian Power Summit in Lagos on Thursday.

    Fashola explained that the amount of power available on the grid on the day of Buhari’s inauguration was 2,690 MW, while the transmission capacity was around 5,000 MW.

    He noted further that the distribution capacity existing at around 750 33/KV trading points, from where power is received by the DisCos and sent out, was about 4000 MW.

    He stressed that the power then being generated at 2690 MW was not up to the transmission capacity of 5000 MW and was insufficient to optimise the distribution capacity of 4000 MW.

    “Within a few months after President Buhari’s assumption of office, power improved and we all acknowledged. We credited it to the President’s ‘body language’,” he said.

    “But the truth was that it had little to do with body language, and more to do with a sense of purpose that people sat up and began to do what ought to be done. In addition, the rains were upon us in July 2015 to September 2015. There was gas supply, which allowed the thermal plants to produce power.

    “Therefore from hydro and thermal sources, we reached an all-time peak power production of 5,074MW before the damage to the pipelines started and we started losing power.

    “We cannot damage power and gas assets and still expect them to provide service to us. It does not make sense.”

    The former Lagos governor explained that the government had, however, taken steps to address issues in the sector.

    These include engaging the aggrieved communities where the attacks were taking place to restore peace and repairing the damaged gas pipelines and gradually restored gas supply.

    He added that the government also launched the economic recovery and growth plan which made power supply one of five critical pillars; and the Power Sector Recovery Programme to work out and implement policies and actions.

    According to the minister, government also facilitated payment of debts to specific DisCos, and verification of debts to all others; payment assurance guarantee scheme of N701 billion to give confidence to GenCos, gas suppliers and their financiers; declaration of eligible customers, to encourage people to invest in building and expanding distribution asset; and development of mini grid regulations to encourage individuals and communities to build their own mini power generation and distribution facilities.

    “All of these policies and action go beyond rhetoric. They are well thought-out decisions, consistent with law and informed by a thorough diagnosis of the problems in the sector that have produced a clear set of solutions to deliver incremental power,” he noted.

    “The result is that as at 4 September 2017, the available power that can be put on the grid was 6619 MW (the incremental power we sought to achieve from 2069 MW in 2015); the transmission capacity was simulated at 6,700 MW (up from 5,000 MW in 2015) but the distribution capacity was 4,600 MW which was what was put on the grid.

    “On September 12, 2017, production of power reached an all-time level of 7,001 MW.

    “Clearly this is evidence-based progress, because we now produce more power then we can distribute. This does not mean that we have enough yet. It means that policies are working, but all the problems are not resolved.

    “We must continue the Power Sector Recovery Programme to impact the distribution end of the value chain so that we distribute and sell everything that we produce as an incentive to more power production and supply.”

    Fashola noted that the government was working toward solving the distribution problems as it plans to strengthen the governance of DisCos by reconstituting board representation in all the discos, a process that is also underway.

    “Next is the implementation of eligible customers, he said, adding that the successful implementation of the policy will help heavy power consumers who are denied power because of defective distribution to make the investment by building the distribution equipment under arrangements and agreements with the DisCos.

    “We are also looking at licensing some private power plants who have generation licenses and excess power, but no distribution license, to grant them permits to willing buyers especially in industrial clusters under regulations made by NERC,” he said.

    Commenting further, he said that the Power Sector Recovery Programme also involves producing more power, like completing the first phase of 9 federal universities out of a planned 37; completion of power plants including the 240 MW Afam power plant among others; completion of several transmission projects across the country; and implementation of the meter supply and installation plan through licensing of service providers, franchise holders, and rural communities.

    “Successes so far recorded in power generation and transmission have revealed that the work is far from finished, but the capacity that achieved the success in generation and transmission can demonstrably be transferred to solve the distribution problems.

    “Finally, I believe that well-meaning and right-thinking Nigerians will agree, that the Buhari Government has gone way beyond rhetoric.

    “We have evolved solutions that are already contributing to GDP growth, and the promise to do more, unlock the power value chain potential for enterprise and profit clearly lies ahead of us, with the successful implementation of the Power Sector Recovery Programme,” Fashola said.

  • Power supply will improve from August – Fashola assures Nigerians

    Power supply will improve from August – Fashola assures Nigerians

    The Minister of Power Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola (SAN) on Thursday assured Nigerians of improved power supply starting from August.

    The minister revealed this during a lecture delivered at the University of Lagos themed:“Power sector reform In Nigeria: challenges and the way forward.”

    “We are working round the clock to solve the (power supply) problem. We are going to get more power by August.

    “How we get equipment, transformers, and all of the equipment needed within the next cycle of 60 to 90 days is critical so that we don’t lose all that energy that is coming from the raining season,” he added.

    The Pro-Chancellor of UNILAG, Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN), said the only solution to Nigeria’s problems is “first class education”.

    Giving a remark at the event , Babalakin said: “The most enduring solution to Nigeria’s problems is applied intelligence and this can only be attained through first class education. In thinking of this solution, we must be creative. We have a fair idea of the resources of the government. It is only through very serious technical application to very good resources that we can solve our problems.

    “There is need for cerebral application of our resources. We have everything; we just need a change of attitude. The most gifted people are not those with aptitude, but those with attitude. Aptitude is great with natural resources but attitude can be developed. I urge the intelligentsia, let us collectively develop the solution.

    “It is sad that we are far behind in education and we are indifferent. How do we resolve this? Let us all collectively find a solution. Education, as the engine room for the resolution of Nigeria’s problems, must be fostered.”

    In his lecture, Fashola said “If you don’t pay for electricity, you have violated a law. But we are now trying to make that law stronger, and we are looking at how to include fines and to increase the consequences. We want to make it easier to comply than to violate,” he said.

    He also explained that meters are calibrated differently for different distribution companies, adding that for a meter to be transferred, it has to be recalibrated by the distribution company in its new area of use.

    “There are different types of consumers and therefore they require different kinds of meters. Meters are calibrated differently for each distribution company. So, the meter that Ikeja disco has – if you move them from Ikeja disco, they must be recalibrated before you can use them. If you use the wrong meter, you’ll pay the wrong tariff,” he warned.

    On the agitation to cancel the privatisation of the power sector, the power minister said, “Instead of saying ‘cancel the privatisation,’ I would rather say, let us rework the privatisation and re-engineer it to make it work.

    “When people ask us to cancel the privatisation, I ask them how that impacts our moving forward when we demonstrate that we are a nation that cancels a respecting contract. Where are we going to get the dollars to refund (the contractors)? Because they paid in dollars and I don’t think they would accept naira. We cannot keep canceling, there must be a point where we can make things work and I guess that is what this administration is about. We can make it work,” the minister said.