Tag: Electricity

  • Senate Passes Nigeria Start-Up, Electricity, Social Security Commission Bills

    Senate Passes Nigeria Start-Up, Electricity, Social Security Commission Bills

    The Nigerian Senate, on Wednesday, passed the Nigerian start-up Bill, in 2022.

    The passage of the bill followed the consideration of a report by the Committee on ICT and Cyber Security.

    Chairman of the Committee, Senator Oseni Yakubu (APC – Kogi Central), in his presentation, said the bill seeks to provide for the establishment of the National Council for Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship.

    According to him, the council, upon its establishment, would create and develop an enabling environment for technology-enabled start-ups in Nigeria.

    Meanwhile, a bill for an Act to provide for the ease of doing business to ensure transparency, efficiency and productivity in Nigeria and for other related matters, Wednesday, scaled second reading.

    The bill was sponsored by the Deputy Senate Leader, Ajayi Boroffice (APC – Ondo North).

    The bill after consideration was referred by the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, to the Committee on Trade and Investment for further legislative input.

    The Committee was given two weeks to report back to the chamber in plenary.

    In a related development, another bill to establish the Federal Nephrology and Kidney Research and Treatment Centre Hadejia also scaled the second reading on the floor.

    The bill, sponsored by Senator Hassan Ibrahim Hadejia (APC – Jigawa North-East), was referred by Lawan to the Committee on Health (Secondary and Tertiary).

    The Senator Yahaya Oloriegbe-led Committee was given four weeks to turn in its report.

  • Electricity generation drops by 7% to 3,284 MW

    Electricity generation drops by 7% to 3,284 MW

    Electricity generation on, the weekend, dropped by 7 per cent to 3,284 megawatts, MW, from 3,526MW, according to the report of the Nigeria Electricity System Operator, obtained by Vanguard. This was grossly inadequate for transmission and distribution to electricity consumers, including households and organisations in all parts of the nation.

    Consequently, checks by Vanguard indicated that many consumers did not have a supply while others generated their power independent at higher costs.

    However, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), weekend, stated that the Federal Government is making effort to deliver two units of 330 kV power transmission substations in Katsina and Kano states.

    The Managing Director, TCN, Engr. Sule Abdulaziz assured that the company would deliver two units of 330kV power transmission substations in Katsina and Kano states along with the transmission lines in the next year to boost the power supply in the states.

    Abdulaziz, who gave the assurance while inspecting the 330/132/33kV Katsina Substation project and the Rimi Zakaria Substation in Kano, at the instance of the Minister of Power, Engr. Abubakar D. Aliyu, said the transformers and structures are in place at the Katsina Substation.

    A statement by TCN General Manager Public Affairs, Ndidi Mbah, yesterday explained that on completion, the Katsina substation will improve the transmission of bulk power supply to Daura, Dutsinma, Kankara and Malumfashi Substations in the state. She quoted Abdulaziz as saying that “We are willing, and we want to ensure that we finish this substation within one year. We will also invite Mr President to commission the substation”.

    The TCN boss noted that the transmission line that will bring bulk supply to the substation is from Kano and was earlier affected by Right of Way issues.

    “TCN and the government are collaborating on this, processes have been completed and the contractor will soon be back to the site to finish his work and we will be able to commission this substation”.

    He noted that the substation facility has two units of 150MVA power transformers and two units of 60MVA power transformers.

    At the 132/33kV Kankia Substation where the materials for the 330kV Kano to Katsina transmission line are stored, Engr. Abdulaziz said: “We are using part of the station as a storage facility for the materials the contractor is using for the construction of the 330kV transmission line from Kano to Katsina”.

    He also said the line was awarded around 2010, but the Right of Way issue in Kano affected the project execution.

    According to him, “We have discussed with the Kano government, they have assisted us with paying for the land while TCN has concluded processes for the structures. So the contractor is now free to continue the construction of towers and eventually the lines. We want to make sure that within the one year remaining for this administration, we will be able to complete that transmission line, and so that Mr President will commission the project”.

    He also visited the 30MVA 132/33kV mobile transmission Substation Bichi, which was executed in-house by TCN engineers. The substation has been completed and will improve the bulk power requirement of the state waterworks, Bichi and environs.

    The representative of the contractor of the Katsina project, Engr. Mustapha Maihajjo lauded the current administration for fast-tracking the Katsina Substation project’s funding.

    Also, the Special Assistant on Power and Energy to the Katsina State Governor, Mansur Ahmed Musa commended the Katsina Mega Substation project.

    In his words: “We have waited for it for a long time and we cannot wait for it to be delivered. We believe that this project will be delivered timely as the contractor and the Managing Director of TCN promised.”

  • Rural Devt : NSG Sets To Rehabilitates Toto-Umaisha Road, Installs Transformers To Boost Rural Electricity, Says Speaker

    Rural Devt : NSG Sets To Rehabilitates Toto-Umaisha Road, Installs Transformers To Boost Rural Electricity, Says Speaker


    “… as Speaker Balarabe reels out Gov. Sule’s projects in his constituency…”

    From Leo Nzwanke, Lafia

    Speaker, Nasarawa State House of Assembly Alh Ibrahim Balarabe Abdullahi has said that Governor Abdullahi Sule, has concluded plans to Rehabilitate Toto-Umaisha Road to open up economic activities and ease transportation in the area.

    Similarly, the Speaker has revealed that the State Government is set to install four Transformers in Umaisha Development Area to boost rural electrification in the area for grassroots development.

    The Speaker, who revealed this while holding meeting with all the 175 wards and LG Excos of his constituency in his home town Umaisha at the weekend said two of the Transformers will be install in Umaisha town, one at Kanyehu and the other at Ugya respectively.

    The meeting brought together all the 162 wards Excos and 13 LG Excos in Umaisha /Ugya State Constituency as well as APC Stalwarts in the area.

    “Gov. Abdullahi Sule in his magnanimity has approved some life touching projects in my constituency,

    ” The Governor has graciously approved the rehabilitation of the Toto-Umaisha Road aside the approval for the installation of four Transformers in my constituency.

    “Development the said begins with road, when we have good road and electricity, what else do we need, with this other things will follow,

    ” Ours as legislators is to lobby and that is exactly what I am doing as your representative, the State Government has carried out lots of projects in this community, my constituency to be precised, many school blocks across electoral wards has been renovated, aside the new upstairs building at Transfer School Umaisha, the Ta’al Model School in Umaisha is presently undergoing total renovation among others,” the Speaker said.

    “Aside these projects which I have lobbied and attracted to my people, I have carried out lots of my personal projects and programmes at my own capacity ranging from Education Support Programmes and scholarship, women and Youths empowerment, projects for the riverine communities, street lights and Agriculture support programmes for the farmers and many others.

    He appreciated the Governor for the passion he have for his people and re-assured him of their total support for his administration to succeed beyond 2023.

    “We have two super investors in this area, the Flour Mills and AZMAN Farms presently courtesy Governor Abdullahi Sule aside his security efforts and lots more,” the Speaker added.

    He called on his people to continue to pray for the Governor and support the APC government at all levels to succeed.

  • FG Lists Steps Taken To Restore ‘Normal Supply Of Electricity’ Nationwide

    FG Lists Steps Taken To Restore ‘Normal Supply Of Electricity’ Nationwide

    The Federal Government on Saturday said it has taken several steps “towards the restoration of normal supply of electricity nationwide.”

    The national grid suffered shutdowns at least twice in the past week leading to blackouts across the country amid rising prices of fuel products.

    In a statement signed by Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, the government said it had made some progress to address the recent challenges.

    “The Nigerian public may please recall that the national grid lost 1,110 MW generation capacity as a consequence of simultaneous disruptions in gas supply to the Okpai, Calabar and the Afam VI power plants,” the statement said.

    “The available generation capacity was exacerbated by the ongoing water management regime at the Kainji, Jebba and Shiroro power plants.”

    According to the Minister, the steps taken to address the situation include the following:

    a. The gas pipeline affected by acts of vandalism has been restored and the Okpai power plant has resumed power generation and currently contributing an average of 300MW.

    b. The Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Plc has been directed to enter into fast-track negotiation with NAOC on an interim energy sales agreement with a view to bringing the new Okpai II power plant on the grid, thereby contributing additional 400MW of generation capacity.

    c. The “pigging” of the gas pipeline supplying gas to the Odukpani power plant is scheduled for completion on March 21st, 2022, thus ramping up generation by about 400MW.

    d. In order to optimise the capacity utilisation of the power plants owned by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Ltd (NDPHC), the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission has approved a special gas pricing for emergency contracting of gas from the Nigerian Gas Marketing Company Ltd. We expect an ongrid improvement of about 800MW generation capacity from the NDPHC plants.

    e. In the medium-term, we have agreed with NGPIC (a subsidiary of NNPC) on the framework for the overhaul of the Okoloma gas processing plant thereby restoring the full capacity of the 650MW Afam VI combined cycle power plant.

    f. While the recent spate of system collapse is regrettable, it was a direct consequence of a snap on 330KV transmission line. The mitigation measures for avoiding such incidence of blackouts are being impemented through several interventions including the Presidential Power Initiative.

  • FG Reassures Nigerians Of Plan To Generate 25,000 Megawatts Of Electricity

    FG Reassures Nigerians Of Plan To Generate 25,000 Megawatts Of Electricity

    The Federal Government has assured Nigerians of its readiness to generate 25,000 megawatts of electricity in the country as part of efforts to enhance power-related businesses and other economic activities in the country.

    The Minister of Power, Mua’azu Sambo disclosed this in Katsina State at the weekend when he inspected a lot of power transmission substation projects including the ongoing windmill project located at Lambar Rimi in Charanchi Local Government Area of the State.

    Sambo who was accompanied by the Acting Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Engineer Sule Abdulaziz, explained that a number of procurements have been made by the ministry under the Presidential power Initiative to restore electricity and enhance power-related businesses across the country.

    The windmill project contract which was awarded in June 2009 was designed to generate 10 megawatts of electricity for Katsina State and was expected to be completed within 24 months.

    Channels Television, however, gathered that the initial contractor moved to the site in 2010 after which the project engineer was kidnapped at the peak of the work in 2012 which signified the beginning of the delay in completing the project on time.

    Out of the 37 wind turbines installed for the takeoff of the project, 31 have successfully been working with the remaining six of them vandalized which the ministry is working to fix ahead of the commissioning of the project.

    Each of the turbines has the capacity to generate 275 kilowatts.

    In the meantime, the newly appointed Minister of Power inspected three power transmission substation projects meant not only to serve as booster stations to the windmill project but also to boost electricity supply across the state.

    They include 330 KV substation located at Fatima Shema Estate which is coming from Kano, construction of 33/11 KV Liyafa substation at Katsina- Kano Road as well as the 133/33 KV Kankia Transmission Substation.

  • Lack Of Electricity Killing Nigerian Industries – Adesina

    Lack Of Electricity Killing Nigerian Industries – Adesina

    President of the African Development Bank Group, Akinwumi Adesina, on Tuesday lamented that a paucity of energy was negatively affecting the growth of Nigerian industries.

    Adesina made the comment while speaking at a meeting organised by the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Abuja.

    “Today, no business can survive in Nigeria without generators,” Adesina said. “Consequently, the abnormal has become normal.

    “Unless Nigeria decisively tackles its energy deficiency and reliability, its industries will always remain uncompetitive.”

    Also speaking at the meeting was the Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala.

    Dr Okonjo-Iweala noted that trade was a key part in the global economy recovery and called for more support for micro, small and medium enterprises.

    “Poor countries need access to bigger markets to grow rapidly,” she said. “With trade projected to grow at 10.8 percent this year, more than twice as fast as GDP, external demand will far outpace domestic demand for many countries, especially those on the wrong end of the k-shaped recovery.

    “For Manufacturers, trade is also important because they need better access to imports as well as competitive logistics and other services critical to international competitiveness.

    “Digital is very important here, especially for young Africans and the businesses they create; many businesses have been able to weather the pandemic because they were able to access the Internet and sell online.

    “We should work harder, first to understand the barriers facing micro, medium and small enterprises in global trade and then to lower these barriers.

    “At the WTO, different groups of members are seeking to do just that. One group is working on an e-commerce agreement. Another is working on empowering MSMEs to trade; and a third is working on lowering barriers facing women in global economic trade.”

  • National Grid Collapses for Second Time in One Month

    National Grid Collapses for Second Time in One Month

    The national power grid has collapsed for the second time in less than a month, worsening the blackout being experienced by households and businesses in parts of Nigeria.

    The collapse, which occurred around 1:00pm on Monday, was confirmed by two of the electricity distribution companies in the country.

    The grid had on July 28, 2021 suffered a total collapse, which the Transmission Company of Nigeria attributed to the loss of 611 megawatts at two power stations.

    Eko Electricity Distribution Company, in a message to its customers on its Facebook page, said, “We regret to inform you of a system collapse on the national grid that’s causing outages across our network.

    “We are working with our TCN partners to restore supply as soon as possible. Please bear with us.”

    Kaduna Electric said, “We sincerely apologise for the power outage in our franchise states which is due to a system collapse from the national grid. Supply shall be restored as soon as the grid is back up.

    “We regret any inconvenience this may cause all our customers.”

    The grid, which is being managed by government-owned TCN, has continued to suffer system collapse over the years amid a lack of spinning reserve that is meant to forestall such occurrences.

    Spinning reserve is the generation capacity that is online but unloaded and that can respond within 10 minutes to compensate for generation or transmission outages.

  • Again, Blackout hits homes, businesses as power grid collapses

    Again, Blackout hits homes, businesses as power grid collapses

    The national power grid has suffered another system collapse, worsening the blackout being experienced by households and businesses in parts of Nigeria.

    The collapse, which occurred early in the afternoon on Wednesday, was confirmed by two of the electricity distribution companies in the country.

    Eko Electricity Distribution Company, in a text message to its customers, said, “Dear customer, the present outage is due to a system collapse on the National Grid. TCN (Transmission Company of Nigeria) assures us that supply will be restored shortly.”

    The Head of Kano Electricity Distribution Company, Nura Shawai, said in a statement, “This is to kindly inform the general public of another system collapse based on information available to us. This occurred today 28/7/2021 at 12:20 pm, as the national grid was disrupted, resulting in national blackout.

    “However, the grid controllers have assured that efforts towards restoring supply are in progress, promising speedy reconnection of Kano and other locations to the grid, as soon as the fault is rectified.”

    The grid, which is being managed by government-owned Transmission Company of Nigeria, has continued to suffer system collapse over the years amid a lack of spinning reserve that is meant to forestall such occurrences.

    Spinning reserve is the generation capacity that is online but unloaded and that can respond within 10 minutes to compensate for generation or transmission outages.

  • Gov Sule sees road map to functional electricity in Nasarawa

    Gov Sule sees road map to functional electricity in Nasarawa

    By Abel Leonard/ Lafia

    The importance of electricity in nations building cannot be over emphasised especially in developing nations such as ours. Undoubtedly, for developing nations, the need for reliable and affordable electricity is more fundamental than any other thing.

    Electricity can improve and save lives just as it can support expanded industries, modern agriculture, increase trade and improve transportation. These are indeed building blocks that help people in many ways to escape poverty and create better lives.

    Electricity powers computers, communications, cutting edge medical equipment and much more. Regrettably in Nigeria such is not fully harness the values which electricity can add to our daily existence. Even though governments in the past made several efforts to address the problem of power supply, they did not yield any positive results. Massive corruption in the sector prevented all the efforts of government towards getting at the solutions.

    In Nasarawa state, successive governments made several efforts towards addressing electricity deficiencies by way of provision of transformers and other accessories that could assist in improving the supply of electricity to various communities; again, the efforts yielded little or no result, hence, in the case of Nasarawa South zone, the 33KVA line that runs from Akwanga to Lafia was grossly inadequate to take care of the entire Nasarawa South.

    That perhaps explains why today the state is confronted with rationing of electricity at best and at worst, total blackout. People in Nasarawa South which comprises of Lafia, Doma, Awe Keana and Obi Local Government Councils have been contending with above scenario for decades now despite efforts of successive administrations to address the menace.

    A seeming relief came when the federal government awarded contract for transmission of 330KVA line running from the south eastern part of the country to the northern part, crossing Nasarawa South.

    Taking advantage of this, former governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura put up a spirited fight to ensure the federal government also awarded contract for stepping down of this 330KVA line in Lafia to boost power supply to Nasarawa South.

    His efforts yielded result as the federal government awarded this very contract with three years completion period. But all the encouragement of the state government to ensure completion of the project at stipulated time met some upsets as one form of problem or the other kept rearing its head, forcing the project to extend to this material time.

    In recognition of the vital role electricity plays in nation building, Governor Abdullahi Sule the present governor of Nasarawa state who succeeded Sen. Umar Tanko Almakura upon assumption of office in 2019 pledged to continue from where former governor Al-makura stopped in respect of Akurba 330 KVA sub-station.

    Governor Sule has been running from pillar to post to ensure completion of the project. He made uncountable trips to Abuja and to the site of the project in Akurba to ensure that the project become a reality.

    Sees back in keana, Governor Abdullahi Sule gave the hint while Speaking at the commissioning of Giza 33KVA electrification project, and the recent tour to meet the people as one of the event marking his two years in office again confirmed that the Akurba power substation project is now 100 percent completed. What remains, he said is , line-out which will be completed in a matter of months.

    Engr. Sule visibly expressed his gladness over the completion of the project, further identified electricity as critical to the industrialization thrust of his administration, adding that on assumption of office, he entered into contract with the people of the state for provision of infrastructure, employment opportunities, healthcare, water supply and electricity.

    He emphasized that on completion of the Akurba substation, the problem of power supply in the state will be a thing of the past, with six dedicated lines to distribute power across the state.

    His word “Two lines will be dedicated to Lafia, one line will go to Doma, one line will take care of Assakio/Obi/Keana, one line will go to Akwanga”, Governor Sule further revealed.
    It is indeed a truism that completion of the Akurba 330KVA substation will substantially boost power supply to Nasarawa state, thereby improving the lives of our people.” He said.

    However, the fear being expressed by the people is whether the existing wires, cables and transformers are good enough to withstand the volume of supply from a 330KVA substation in view of their obsolete nature.

    Our correspondent gathered that there is an issue of substandard electrical materials as well as phase to phase connections which is commonly found in some homes. There is going to be a very big problem if these issues are not addressed before the final commissioning of this 330KVA line.

    Moving forward, the Nasarawa state government must procure and replace the existing wires, cables and transformers or lobby Abuja Power Distribution Company to do so.
    On the issue of phase to phase connections and substandard electrical materials in various homes, the state government in conjunction with Abuja Power Distribution Company must embark on public campaigns/ sensitisations of the people against the use of substandard electrical materials and against phase to phase connections.

    Government must do the needful to avoid any unpleasant situations. Let not the 330KVA line turn to a nightmare for our people. A stitch in time saves nine.

  • A’Ibom to replace vandalized electricity installations

    A’Ibom to replace vandalized electricity installations

    Akwa Ibom state government has said that it would soon embark on the replacement of vandalised electrical installations, transformer substations in Uyo and environs.

    State Commissioner for Power & Petroleum Development, Dr. John Etim made this known while on an inspection tour to some vandalised installations in the State Capital yesterday expressing sadness over the wanting destruction done to the installations.

    Etim who inspected vandalized electricity installations at Ewet Housing Estate, Ekpri Nsukara, Anua Offot, Akamba Nsukara Offot and Atiku  Abubakar road warned that henceforth government would take the prosecution of vandals more serious.

    The commissioner called on the people to be watchful and ensure that government facilities located in their communities were protected from all forms of vandalism adding that it must be everybody’s business to ensure their safety.

    “If government spends money to install facilities for us, we should also live up to expectations, to make sure these facilities are safe, so If you see something, say something, by alerting the security agencies and other relevant authorities”. He said.

    The State Assembly Etim said would soon enact a legislation that would hold beneficiaries of government projects accountable, thereby, making them responsible for vandalised public utilities.

    He described as unacceptable and irresponsible  peoples’ refusal to pay their electricity bills after consumption and tasked electricity consumers to fulfill their own part of the bargain.

    The inspection the commissioner disclosed was undertaken as a result of  applications received from the affected communities and called on others with the same plight to apply to the ministry.