Power generation stagnates amid promises, repair of 128 towers at N8.8b
28 November 2024 |
2:24 am
Nigeria’s electricity generation has stagnated at an average 4,000 megawatts despite the promises made by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to boost the capacity to 6,000MW by the end of 2024.
• Electricity will be available to 300m Nigerians, minister assures
• TCN indicts police on arrested vandals, bandits
Nigeria’s electricity generation has stagnated at an average 4,000 megawatts despite the promises made by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, to boost the capacity to 6,000MW by the end of 2024.
This came as the Federal Government, yesterday, said N8.8 billion was spent to fix 128 vandalised transmission towers. Electricity data from November 19 to 27, 2024 showed that Nigeria’s power generation remained between 3,000MW and 5,000MW, the same level it had been since the power sector was privatised.
Nigeria’s peak generation in the last one week was between 5,047.9MW and 5,189.3MW, while the stable output stood between 3,704.51MW and 4,360.29MW. Yesterday, the performance stood between 4,200MW and 3,300MW, even as most customers were being migrated to band A on the guise that power supply was improving.
The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) had stated that vandals damaged 128 lines comprising 330kV and 132kV across the country in the first 11 months of this year.
The incidents, which spread across the country, especially in the North, Enugu and Port Harcourt, crippled transmission capacity at a time the market was preparing for bilateral ties.
Adelabu said the Federal Government was working with the World Bank and African Development Bank (AfDB) to make electricity available to 50 million Nigerians by the year 2030.
Managing Director of TCN, Suleiman Abdulaziz, who was represented by the Executive Director, Transmission Service Provider (TSP) of TCN, Olugbenga Ajiboye, said since January 13, 2024, 128 transmission towers were destroyed either by vandals or bandits, across the country. He lamented that when the vandals were apprehended and handed over to the police for prosecution, they were bailed; thus giving them the opportunity to continue with the vandalism.
“As I talk to you today, 128 of our towers have been destroyed by either vandals or bandits. Till date, we have spent about N8.8 billion, by our estimation, to put them back to full and functional use. It is so sad that each time the vandals were caught and taken to the police for prosecution, the police would incident them for theft, instead of vandalism and they will be bailed. If they are charged for vandalism, they cannot be bailed, but this is where we are. So many of them have been arrested, but each time they will be bailed because police often incident their cases as that of theft.
“When the Shiroro-Mando-Kaduna towers were destroyed, we had to get the full military escorts for our contractors to get the transmission lines and towers restored, and in the some cases, they would tell us that we could only work for two hours in some days. In some instances, they would even tell us that it was not safe to move there. How do we get out of this? How can we deliver electricity to Nigerians under these terrible circumstances? These are part of the challenges we are facing in the power sector,” Abdulaziz said.
The minister said the power ministry was collaborating with its finance counterpart to achieve the process. He added, “The Mission 300, driven by the World Bank and AfDB, is a project that will provide electricity to 300 million Africans, and 50 million Nigeria will benefit from this. Nigeria has a large population that is without electricity and this is a great opportunity for us to be part of this process.
“The Compact document will be signed by President Bola Tinubu in Tanzania in January, 2025. We worked extensively with World Bank, AfDB and the Ministry of Finance to develop the document with all the countries that will be participating in it.
“The most important thing is that we have to drive the process by ourselves through private and public sector participation. We will do it through the solar form system, mini and micro grid, grid extension and connection.”
Related
1 day ago
The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has cautioned Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, against proceeding with a fresh local government election, describing the move as unconstitutional and legally untenable. Fagbemi, in a statement on Thursday, emphasised the legal implications of the recent Court of Appeal judgment delivered…
1 day ago
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) is to formally launch the Accountability and Corruption Prevention Programme for Local Governments in Nigeria (CPP-LG), aimed at tackling systemic corruption and promoting transparency at the grassroots level in the country. This development follows recent legal affirmations of local government autonomy, which are expected to…
1 day ago
The federal government has said that it will begin fresh screening and examinations for senior cadre officers in the paramilitary services to close existing gaps at the top management levels. Chairman of the board of Civil Defence, Corrections, Fire and Immigration Service Board, (CDCFIB), and Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this known at…
1 day ago
The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has demanded the immediate release of Leah Sharibu, who has been in Boko Haram captivity since February 19, 2018. CAN President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh, in a statement, said Leah Sharibu's prolonged stay in captivity is a painful reminder of the insecurity plaguing the country and the urgent need to…
1 day ago
A soothsayer once foretold that former military head of state, Gen Ibrahim Babangida (rtd.), would administer Nigeria. Former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) stated this at the launch of Babangida's autobiography entitled: "Babangida, a journey in service" held Thursday at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja. Abdulsalami, a classmate of Babangida at the Government College…
1 day ago
The National Judicial Council has stated that Justice Maurice Ikpambese remains the Chief Judge of Benue. This declaration is in a statement issued by Mrs Kemi Ogedengbe, Deputy Director of Information, NJC on Tuesday in Abuja. “Unfortunate as this development is, the council wishes to reiterate that there are clear and unambiguous provisions in the…
3 days ago
The Cross River Government says it will take delivery of two new aircraft in March as part of plans to boost the state airline company. Gov. Bassey Otu disclosed this at a media parley with journalists in Calabar on Tuesday. Otu said that the plan to resuscitate the state airline was to provide alternative transportation…
3 days ago
Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River says the Bakassi Deep Seaport project will be funded without the state taking any loan facility. Otu said that the project, a flagship of his administration, though not conceptualised by his government, would change the economic landscape of the state and that of the country at large. The governor…
4 days ago
The European Union (EU) is exploring the potential for establishing a hydropower generation site at Asso Falls in Plateau State. According to the Head of Green and Digital Economy at the EU Delegation in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Inga Stefanowicz, the hydropower project, which is expected to generate 2MW of electricity, is part of the EU’s…
4 days ago
The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) has thrown its weight behind moves to grant both men and women five months of widowhood leave to mourn deceased spouses. The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), the Women's Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), and several other stakeholders also endorsed the move on Monday during a…
×
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.