Some Nigerians have asked the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu to resign his appointment over the persistent power failures across the country.
The clamour for his resignation came after he posted on his X account that he summoned the Chief Executives of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), as well as the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), to a crucial meeting over deteriorating electricity supply across the country.
The Minister explained that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss the worsening power supply in their respective regions and to collectively find lasting solutions.
He noted that it was disheartening to witness the decline in power supply despite the concerted efforts to improve the situation.
According to him, the Ministry has been exerting pressure on the Generating Companies (GENCOs) to enhance their performance, resulting in a recent increase in generation to over 4000MW.
He lamented that despite this progress, certain distribution companies are failing to adequately distribute the power supplied by TCN, while vandalism of power infrastructure exacerbates the problem in regions such as Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan.
Going forward, he said, he would hold all distribution companies accountable for their performance, adding that willful non-performance will not be tolerated, and severe consequences, including license revocation, may be imposed.
Additionally, disclosed that he has instructed TCN to prioritize repair works on damaged transmission towers and power lines to improve supply in affected regions.
However, he said, he has witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by the sector during his recent supervisory visits to power plants, assuring that plans are underway to settle outstanding debts owed to power generation and gas supply companies, which will alleviate the financial strain and contribute to improved generation levels nationwide.
He, therefore, urged the electricity consumers to remain patient as the sector works tirelessly to address these issues and provide better service to all Nigerians.
But Nigerians were angered by that statement and called for his resignation. Some of the reactions gotten from the X platform were captured below.
@ONsogbu said, “Wetin Minister of Powerful Darkness dey talk again?? Oga resignation is the best option”.
@aminstrange, “Just resign abeg! Just resign. I dey sweat as I dey type this. Please resign now”.
@n6oflife6, “RESIGN AND GO. You have Failed in this Sector. Tender your resignation and leave with whatever dignity you have left. This Power sector has exposed you as Incompetent; b4 it Damages your Entire political Career the More life it did BRF. All this Shalaye Ko Necessary”.
For a while now, the licenced power generation, transmission, and distribution companies in the country have come under serious attack over their inability to generate power for domestic use.
Nigeria is home to coal, gas, oil, and sun, but can hardly generate 4,000 megawatts of power for households and businesses, which has impeded the nation’s economic development.
The challenges were blamed on gas Constraints, debts, lack of liquidity, vandalism, aged infrastructure, policy inconsistency, et cetera.
