The Federal Government is poised to invest over N500 billion in completing more than 100 stalled projects by the Transmission Company of Nigeria across various parts of the country.
The PUNCH reported that this commitment was announced by the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, during an official engagement in Kano with the Kano Electricity Distribution Company.
The minister’s visit to Kano aimed at addressing challenges limiting the effectiveness of the power sector and working with local stakeholders to improve operations.
Adelabu offered an apology to Nigerians, particularly those in the northern region, for the prolonged blackouts that had affected them over the past two weeks.
At the meeting with KEDCO officials, Adelabu revealed that many of the TCN’s abandoned projects were at advanced stages of completion, ranging from 80 to 95 percent.
He explained that the ministry had submitted a detailed proposal to President Bola Tinubu, urging him to allocate special funds for these projects in the upcoming 2025 budget.
Completing these projects, the minister noted, would significantly enhance the country’s electricity transmission capacity.
Expressing regret over the neglect of these crucial projects, Adelabu emphasized that their completion would substantially bolster power supply nationwide.
On the subject of recent power outages, he highlighted the urgency of modernizing the country’s transmission system, which currently depends heavily on the Shiroro and Jos channels.
This reliance leaves northern regions vulnerable to disruptions, especially when issues arise in these critical lines.
In a bid to prevent future outages, Adelabu underscored the need for alternative power sources that could act as backups to the national grid.
“This radial system leaves the northern region vulnerable to electricity disruptions whenever issues arise with these lines,” he noted. Adelabu explained that building regional independent power sources would create a buffer against grid collapses, thus safeguarding regions from power shortages caused by issues like vandalism.
The minister also called for increased private investment in the sector, pointing out that electricity provision should not rest solely on the Federal Government.
“Provision of electricity should not be the sole responsibility of the Federal Government,” he said.
Adelabu emphasized a collaborative approach involving state governments and the private sector to strengthen electricity generation and distribution within state metropolises, which would, in turn, support the national grid.
The government, he assured, is determined to enhance electricity supply to revive struggling industries and stimulate economic growth.
He urged states to invest in alternative power solutions, while tasking electricity distribution companies with providing reliable services.
He further encouraged consumers to use electricity responsibly. Adelabu mentioned that investors have shown interest in Kano’s power sector, and he plans to discuss potential projects with Governor Abba Yusuf.
Regarding the metering system, the minister expressed concern, revealing that only about 33 percent of consumers nationwide currently have meters.
He called on KEDCO and other distribution companies to ramp up efforts to provide consumers with meters, ensuring better service delivery.
Addressing speculations that President Tinubu had overlooked the North, thus prolonging the blackout, Adelabu dismissed these claims.
He described the extended outage as unfortunate and clarified that it was neither intentional nor reflective of any bias against a particular region. Speaking at the Kano State Government House, Adelabu explained, “What happened was not deliberate but unfortunate; it is not a situation we want to repeat itself. If at all it will happen, we need to have a permanent solution to it.”
The visit also allowed the minister and his team to inspect Kano’s infrastructure and installations first-hand.
Adelabu called on the Kano State Government to collaborate with the Ministry of Power in developing the region’s energy generation and distribution capacities, noting that the power sector had been decentralized, allowing states to produce their own power.
He encouraged Kano to join other states actively pursuing energy production.
In response, Chief of Staff to the Kano Government House, Shehu Wada Sagagi, assured the minister that the state would explore avenues to invest in the power sector.
He added that the government may consider including subsidies for electricity consumers in its budget to help address some of the sector’s challenges.
