In a renewed commitment to tackle the electricity challenge facing the country, the Federal Government has vowed to complete about 149 projects abandoned by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu who made this commitment when he appeared before the two chambers of the National Assembly for the Ministry’s budget presentation, said about N2.779 trillion would be required to execute the 149 projects that are scattered across the country, many of them at different stages of completion.
“For the TCN alone, we will need about N2.779 trillion to enable us execute the about 149 projects we are currently engaged in all over the country. Our total budget as a ministry is not even up to this but as the saying goes that half bread is better than none. I’m telling you so that you can be aware of the kind of money that is needed in the ministry for us to address our electricity challenges. We need your cooperation and collaboration in achieving the mandate of Mr. President in electricity supply to Nigerians”, the Minister said.
He revealed in a presentation that his administration has increased electricity generation capacity in the country by 1000 megawatts from about 4100 megawatts recorded prior to his appointment.
“We reached a maximum capacity of 5270 megawatts. The improvements in generation capacity were due to improvements in the operation of existing power plants and the commissioning of new plants. This boost was partly driven by efforts to ensure more efficient use of existing infrastructure and completion of some power projects”, he said.
In a statement on Tuesday by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, Chief Adelabu informed the lawmakers that approval has been given for the commencement of the second phase of the Siemens power project under the Presidential Power Initiative with 95 percent completion of the pilot stage in 2024.
He said the project will energise power supply as it would involve the construction of five substations across the nation and permanently address the issue of grid collapse.
Speaking further on the Siemens project, Adelabu said, the substations to be built across the country, would address thenation’s fragile power infrastructure, occasioned by obsolete and outdated equipment.
“The Federal Government is fully determined to address these challenges and issues that have been blocking our progress in our effort to provide electricity to Nigerians and our consumers. Of particular note is the grid collapse, which has to do with the obsolete and outdated equipment around our power stations. To practically address this, the Siemens project will come on board in the first quarter of this year. We have almost concluded the take off of the project and it will involve building five substations across the country. This will energise our supply so that the issue of grid collapse will be a thing of the past. By next week, we will begin the contracts for the substations to come on board”, Adelabu said.
He also informed the lawmakers of the need to address the issue of vandalism as it concerns the electricity asset across the country.
“One other critical thing I want to draw your attention to is the issue of vandalisation as it concerns our assets. It is important we sensitise our people against this act. We must be involved in serious advocacy on this issue. We must jointly address the issue of protecting the power assets. A damage to one is a damage to all, especially the transmission assets, they are so interwoven and a damage to one is a damage to all.
“In this case, we need the cooperation and collaboration of all our security agencies, the Army, the Airforce, the Navy, the Police and the Civil Defence. But more importantly, we need the cooperation and collaboration of the office of the National Security Adviser. We are not just dealing with those who steal cables but bandits, who use dynamite to blow up towers and transmission lines. There is no amount we can vote for this either as a ministry or in TCN that can solve this. Our transmission line from Shiroro – Mando – Kaduna which was attacked by these bandits, and which we are yet to put back, was done in a manner as if we were in a war situation. We did not budget for what was spent to put what we could together.How do we manage the protection of these assets? This must be our joint concern, so we are calling for your cooperation and collaboration in addressing this security challenge facing us in our power assets”, the Minister said.
He added: “I want to assure you that on our part, the Federal Government is fully ready to address the issues hindering the electricity sector this year, 2025 and we hope the year will be a better one for us in the ministry. As I said before, I want to reiterate it that we will focus on this Presidential Power Initiative in ensuring that our grid is stable and does not suffer collapse and when it does, within the very shortest time, it is restored and brought back on board.
The lawmakers, however, commended the Minister over noticeable improvement in power supply across the country.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe said that there have beenimprovement in supply adding that he knew more needed to be done in order to take Nigeria where it ought to be.
He was supported by Senator Ashiru Oyetola representing Osun State who said the first appearance of the Minister before the Senate Committee clearly showed his understanding of the task before him.
“The knowledge you displayed during your first appearance shows understanding of the industry and this has reflected in the performance of the Ministry under you. I will however state that a lot still has to be done”.
