Power crisis is like war but we’re dealing with it ― FG

The Federal Government on Wednesday compared the present power supply crisis in the country to a war situation, saying that it is taking all necessary measures to remain on top of it.

Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, who made the declaration while fielding questions at the end of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, blamed the collapse of power on a combination of factors.

He said having realised the gravity of the situation, he summoned a meeting of stakeholders who he told that the present condition could be likened to a war situation requiring emergency solutions.

According to the Minister, the power grid that suffered a collapse has now been restored and efforts are being made to put power into it.

He explained: “The more reason we are facing the situation now is as a result of the shortage of gas and some of the generators have to go to maintenance.

“It is scheduled maintenance and it is supposed to be scheduled outage but we had not envisaged that we will have issues around vandalization of pipelines which the NNPC has addressed as you can see evidence everywhere, aviation fuel, and petrol in the filling stations.

It is a combination of many factors. That compounded the problem we are having on the grid.

“We have recovered the grid now. The grid is back and we are trying to get more megawatts to push on the grid. We have set up small committees all geared towards getting more megawatts to put on the grid. Basically, the problem around gas.

“You need to have a gas contract between Generating Companies and gas supplies- some are in form of contracts, some are not. We are looking into this and have proffered some solutions in a few days to mature.”

The Minister remarked that even though the nation’s generation capacity is 8,000 megawatts, only 5,000 megawatts can be wheeled for transmission.

The Minister further explained: “Some of you are aware, just two days ago, I summoned an emergency meeting which is unprecedented. For the first time, I brought in all the sector players, from NNPC, AGIP, Shell, the regulator, NERC, the umpire, EMBED, some of the GENCOs like Niger Delta Power Company, and TCN, transporter, the ministry, and the Special Adviser to the President on Infrastructure.

“We came together and used the whole day trying to proffer solutions. I challenged all of them. I said this is like a war situation. We need to find solutions. We need to come out with answers. We need quick and emergency solutions.

“As you rightly put it, the power on the grid has dropped due to those things that affect it; lack of gas and maintenance that some of the generators are undergoing. So, that triggers it.

“You know technology, that drop in the supply that goes down on the grid, it triggers some response. Some started to trip down and that also causes the whole system to go down.

“We had it the day before yesterday, we recovered it. We had it again, we covered it. So, we have covered it now. We are on top of it. The grid is back. We are trying to get more megawatts to push on the grid through that meeting that I told you about. So, everybody is now contributing to that meeting.

The Minister assured that the recent efforts of his ministry have started to yield results but added however that even though the nation’s generation capacity is 13,000 megawatts, only 5,000 megawatts can be wheeled for transmission.

He added: “So, we have started seeing the outcome of the meeting. As I leave here today, I will get more information on what I have to go and do. We have set up small committees, two, three committees and all gearing towards getting more megawatts to put on the grid.

“So, this is the situation. From what I said last time, we still stand on that. We have a capacity of 13,000 megawatts when I was explaining the time I came here. We have the one on the grid, we have the embedded and we have the captive.

“So, if you combine all of them, we have that. So, what is happening now is as a result of all these problems that we’re encountering, and we’re on top of it. Very soon, we will come out of it.”

He disclosed that FEC has approved the sum of N5 billion for payment for the right of way to expand transmission in Lagos and Ogun states.

“And I also told you that we are encountering a lot of challenges of the right of ways. For instance, this one is the issue of the right of way. But we have gotten approval now. Over N5 billion to open up and expand Lagos, Ogun, where presently they may not be enjoying quality electricity.

“So, we need to do this more. We have not denied that the transmission is not strong to carry the load. Otherwise, we have over 13,000 installed capacity at the GENCOs. But we have been able to will only 5000,” he added.

The Minister also dismissed insinuation of disagreement with Generating Companies over money, saying that they have been paid N40 billion while consultants are working on the balance.

“I think I’ve spoken all around. On the gas issue, this should be one of them. So, we are trying to solve all the problems. For instance, just last time, I told you the debts owed by the government to DISCOs. I told you we are paying for that. We are paying around N40 billion.

“The remaining balance is being reviewed by consultants to come out with the exact figure. So, something is being done about that. And regarding the GENCOs and the gas suppliers, this is another issue between them and our obligation to the GENCOs is being looked at and we are working on that seriously,” the Minister stated.

Also speaking, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investments, Niyi Adebayo, revealed that FEC also approved the construction of a new corporate headquarters for the National Sugar Development Council in Abuja, in favour of Vita construction limited in the sum of N5,756,833,616 with a completion period of 24 months.

The Minister of State for Works and Housing, Muazu Sambo, said the council approved the implementation of four projects, including two road projects and two bridges in different parts of the country.

He said the projects are the realignment of the Kano state border Birnin Kudu Bauchi state border Road in favour of Triata Nigeria limited in the total sum of N10,133,856,109; the reconstruction of a substandard breach at Pada road in Kogi state in favour of Messrs Rosli International Limited in the sum of N4,738,135,600 with a completion period of 18 months, the construction of the Kaiyama Kishi Road in Oyo/Kwara states in favour of Messrs Phipps infrastructure limited in the sum of N24,072,136,320 340 with a completion period of 36 months.

The other project approved for the ministry the reconstruction of a substandard bridge along Ihugh-Damkori-Vandeikya-General hospital junction-Ogoja Road in Benue/Cross River states in favour of MSSR Marpac Engineering Nigeria limited in the sum of N4,108,266,569, with a completion period of 24 months.

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