The Minister of Power, Mr. Adebayo Adelabu, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s intention to increase electricity generation from 3,500 megawatts (MW) to 6,500 MW within the next three to six months.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during a working visit to various power projects in Lagos on Friday, Adelabu emphasized the goal of improving power supply nationwide to meet increasing energy needs.
His visit encompassed an examination of the headquarters of Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) and two 20 MVA injection substations at Randle, Surulere, along with the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) monitoring rooms.
Adelabu emphasised the urgency of boosting electricity generation capacity, stating, “3,500 megawatts is not acceptable, and we have plans to increase the capacity to a minimum of 6,000 to 6,500 within the next three to six months.”
He praised EKEDC for its accomplishments over the past decade and emphasized the necessity for continual enhancements in the power sector to effectively drive economic growth and development.
Highlighting the pivotal role of the power sector in industrial and economic progress, Adelabu unfavorably compared Nigeria’s power generation capacity to that of countries like Korea and China, emphasizing the imperative for significant improvement.
In addressing challenges within the power sector, Adelabu underscored the importance of prioritizing baseload power generation and gradually transitioning to cleaner energy sources to adequately meet the nation’s energy requirements.
He acknowledged ongoing complaints about power outages and urged stakeholders to collaboratively tackle these challenges and enhance service delivery.
Adelabu outlined the government’s strategy to prioritize service provision to customers in higher billing brackets while gradually extending improved services to all segments through strategic infrastructure investments.
Recognizing the pivotal role of Distribution Companies (DisCos) in customer service, Adelabu stressed the significance of ensuring proactive engagement and efficient operations at this level to effectively address consumer needs.
He emphasized the necessity for comprehensive reforms and transformation across all segments of the power sector, with a focus on issues such as metering, vandalism, debt collection, and customer relations.
Adelabu emphasized the importance of stimulating demand through customer engagement to ensure the effective utilization of generated power, while also highlighting the significance of efficient distribution to minimize wastage.
The minister underscored the government’s dedication to enhancing the sector’s performance through substantial investments in infrastructure and efficient customer response.
In response to the minister’s visit, Mr. Oritsedere Otubu, Chairman of EKEDC, praised the government’s efforts to improve power supply and affirmed the company’s commitment to supporting the initiative.
Dr. Tinuade Sanda, CEO of EKEDC, stated that the company would continue to collaborate with government agencies and consumers to safeguard power assets and combat vandalism within its operations.
Sanda mentioned that in the past six months, the company had invested over four billion Naira in transformers, cables, and the rehabilitation of 352 feeders to ensure stable supply during the rainy season.
She further noted that the company’s debt profile over the last 10 years amounted to over N131 billion, including debts owed by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs).
“We also use this medium to appeal to our customers to pay their bills for effective service delivery.
“The MDA’s outstanding debts to date stood at over N36 billion,” she added, adding that the DisCo will not hesitate to embark on mass disconnection of debtors.
She, however, said the company was ready to embark on mass disconnection of debtors, including government agencies with outstanding debts, to address the issue of unpaid bills.