The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has called upon the chief executives of the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company to address the worsening power supply situation in their respective regions.
Also summoned is the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Sule Abdulazeez, in response to the deteriorating power situation experienced nationwide since the onset of the year.
The power supply across the country has progressively worsened since the beginning of the year, partly due to the over $1 billion debt owed to gas producers who supply gas for thermal gas-fired power plants. Additionally, there have been numerous cases of vandalism of transmission towers, resulting in grid disturbances and frequent drops in electricity transmission.
Expressing concern over the situation, Adelabu issued a letter, signed by the Director of Distribution Services at the Federal Ministry of Power, B.U Mustapha, summoning the CEOs of the Discos and TCN to a meeting scheduled for the coming week. The meeting aims to address the issues surrounding the declining electricity supply and seek lasting solutions.
In a statement on Saturday by the minister’s Special Adviser, Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, Adelabu emphasized that the management of other underperforming discos would also be questioned regarding their non-performance.
“These two discos have been summoned due to the worsening power supply situation in their regions despite improved supply from TCN,” stated the power minister.
Despite gas shortages, the ministry has been pressuring power generating companies to enhance performance, resulting in generation levels ramping up to over 4,000 megawatts in recent days. However, certain distribution companies have been accused of deliberately failing to uptake power supply from TCN, while vandalism of power lines has been reported in various regions.
Adelabu reiterated the ministry’s commitment to holding all discos accountable for their performance and directed TCN to commence repair works on damaged transmission towers and power lines promptly to enhance supply in affected regions.
The minister had previously conducted supervisory visits to several power generating plants, including Kainji hydro power plant, Benue, Taraba, Olorunshogo, Omotosho thermal plants, Ihvobor, and Azura power plants. During these visits, Adelabu assured the power plants of the government’s plans to settle outstanding debts owed to power generation and gas supply companies, with the aim of improving generation levels nationwide.
Adelabu urged electricity consumers to remain patient as efforts are made to rectify the situation.
