NASS commends Adelabu over improved electricity supply

The Senate and the House of Representatives on Monday commended the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, over the noticeable improvement in power supply across the country.

The commendation was given when the Minister appeared before the two chambers at the National Assembly for the Ministry’s budget presentation.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, said that there have been improvements in supply adding that more needed to be done in order to take Nigeria where it ought to be and was supported by Senator Ashiru Oyetola who said the first appearance of the Minister before the Senate Committee clearly showed his understanding of the task before him.

“The knowledge you displayed during your first appearance shows an understanding of the industry and this has been reflected in the performance of the Ministry under you. I will however state that a lot still has to be done.”

At the House of Representatives, the chairman, Committee on Power, Honourable Victor Nwokolo said that the Minister impressed the Committee and should have simply taken a bow and left, “But we will be shirking in our responsibility if we do not do the right thing as representatives of the Nigerian people who have elected us”.

Also speaking, Chairman, House Committee on Renewable Energy, Honourable Afam Ogene, members representing Surulere 11, Hon Lanre Okunlola and Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency, Delta, Hon Ezechi Nnamadi noted improvement in power supply and urged more engagements with National Assembly members in order to understand areas needing further government interventions.

The minister earlier in his presentation, said when he was appointed, the generation was just about 4100 megawatts and within a year, the capacity increased by over 1000 megawatts.

“We reached a maximum capacity of 5270 megawatts. The improvements in generation capacity were due to improvements in the operation of existing power plants and the commissioning of new plants. This boost was partly driven by efforts to ensure more efficient use of existing infrastructure and completion of some power projects,” he said.

Adelabu also disclosed that in tackling the electricity challenge facing the nation, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), will require about N2.779 trillion to execute its 149 projects that are scattered across the country, many of them at different stages of completion.

He informed the lawmakers that approval has been given for the commencement of the second phase of the Siemens Power Project under the Presidential Power Initiative with 95 per cent completion of the pilot stage in 2024. He said the project will energise power supply as it would involve the construction of five substations across the nation and permanently address the issue of grid collapse.

“I am happy to appear before today to address you on what we have been able to achieve last year and what is expected of us as a ministry this year. For the TCN alone, we will need about N2.779 trillion to enable us to execute the 149 projects we are currently engaged in all over the country. Our total budget as a Ministry is not even up to this but as the saying goes that half bread is better than none.

“I’m telling you so that you can be aware of the kind of money that is needed in the ministry for us to address our electricity challenges. We need your cooperation and collaboration in achieving the mandate of Mr President in electricity supply to Nigerians”, the Minister said.

Speaking further on the Siemens project, Adelabu said, the substations to be built across the country, would address the nation’s fragile power infrastructure, occasioned by obsolete and outdated equipment.

“The Federal Government is fully determined to address these challenges and issues that have been blocking our progress in our effort to provide electricity to Nigerians and our consumers. Of particular note is the grid collapse, which has to do with the obsolete and outdated equipment around our power stations.

“To practically address this, the Siemens project will come on board in the first quarter of this year. We have almost concluded the take-off of the project and it will involve building five substations across the country. This will energise our supply so that the issue of grid collapse will be a thing of the past. By next week, we will begin the contracts for the substations to come on board.”

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