The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu on Wednesday denied requesting for ₦8 billion solely for sensitization on electricity bills payment.
His media aide, Mr. Bolaji Tunji made this known while responding to the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) that has asked the minister to resign for seeking N8 billion to sensitize Nigerians on the payment of electricity bills.
NLC President, Joe Ajaero, had in a statement described the Power Ministry’s demand as “absurd”, urging those in the Ministry and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to reinvigorate the sector and save it from total collapse.
Ajaero highlighted gross corruption in the power sector, and the inability of the leaders to find lasting solutions to power challenges despite huge investments in the sector.
“The power sector in Nigeria is at the brink of collapse as the helmsmen have repeatedly shown gross incompetence.”
It is a sector where NERC despite the enormous power invested in it by the Electricity act of 2023 has continuously demonstrated incapacity to regulate or outrightly refused to discharge its responsibilities to electricity consumers in Nigeria while the Minister in charge is enamoured with seeking about ₦8billion to teach Nigerians how to pay electricity bill.
“It is therefore not surprising that power grid collapse is now a constant as it has continued to succumb to greed and crass incompetence.
“Whereas the Minister seeks ₦8 Billion to educate us, contractors in the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) who help in delivering capacity are owed over N200 billion (Two Hundred Billion Naira).”
But Tunji, in a Whatsapp message to The Nation, said: “It is important to correct the impression that N8billion is being proposed for sensitization on electricity payment.
“The minister never said the money would be spent on sensitization on electricity payment.”
Lamenting act of vandalism that has continued to throw different parts of the country into darkness with vandals planting bombs on power tower, carting away power lines, the Minister said there is a need to protect the power infrastructure.
According to him, the fund would be most spent on a nationwide sensitization.
It would also include the use of the radio, television, social media, newspapers, and billboard to reorientate the citizenry on the setbacks of vandalism of power assets.
Adelabu said it would also entail the engagement of various community stakeholders such as security men to keep surveillance on the infrastructure.
He said: “This would entail sensitization across the 774 LGs and 36 States and Abuja, it would entail the use of electronics i.e radio, television; the social media, newspapers, billboards to re-orientate Nigerians on the implications of vandalizing power infrastructure.
“It would also require the engagements of the different community stakeholders across geo political zones in town hall meetings; engaging local security men to protect the assets. So, saying that the Ministry has budgeted N8billion on sensitization on payment of bills is showing a lack of understanding of all the problems in the power sector.”
On the issue of incessant grid collapse, Adelabu said the government is making efforts continuously to tackle the problems.
According to him, it is a known fact that over the years, the infrastructure has been neglected and allowed to decay to a state of dilapidation.
He said they are being gradually tackled. Continuing, the minister said: “The Siemens project is one of the ways of tackling this.
“The pilot stage of the Siemens project that will ensure the installation of 10 power transformers and the mobile substations is about 95 per cent complete.
“The 2nd phase will see the construction of 14 brown field substations and 20 green field substations.
“Agreement has been signed for the construction of 5 substations starting Q1.
“This will further strengthen the grid capacity and reduce instances of grid collapse. Not only that, the SCADA project is still ongoing.
“It should be noted that when the present administration came on stream, the generation stagnated at about 4000 megawatt, and within that period, over 1000 megawatt has been added to the grid reaching an all-time high of 5,270 megawatt.
“All the Minister of power is asking for is the cooperation of all to ensure that the renewed hope agenda as it relates to the power sector which is crucial for economic development is achieved.
“Under the pilot phase of the Siemens project 10 power transformers and 10 mobile substations were supposed to be purchased and installed.
“We have installed 8 power transformers and five mobile substations in the following areas: Apo in Abuja, Okene in Kogi, Amuse in Delta, Ihovbor in Edo, Maryland in Lagos, Potiskum in Yobe, Ajah in Lagos, Birnin Kebbi in Kebbi state, Jebba in Niger State, Kwanar-dangora in Kano State, UI, Oyo State, and Sapade, Ogun State.
“This has helped in stabilizing the grid. The major issue today is vandalism which is drawing us a few steps backward.”
Credit: thenationonlineng.net
