Electricity: Power minister bemoans activities of saboteurs, cartels

“After the industrial areas have had light during the day, we can shift power at night to residential areas because production takes place during the day."

Electricity: power minister bemoans activities of saboteurs, cartels
Adebayo adelabu, minister of power

The Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu,  has bemoaned the activities of saboteurs and cartels in the electricity sector, blaming them for the incessant power outages in the country.

Adelabu expressed this during a programme tagged “Confronting Nigeria’s Power Challenge as the Nation Migrates to a Multi-Tier Electricity Market” on Tuesday in Abuja.

 

BRANDPOWER reports that the programme was organised by the  House of Representatives Committee on Power.

The minister  said  saboteurs and cartels perpetrated evil for their selfish interests in order to frustrate efforts at ensuring stable electricity supply in the country.

“We have saboteurs, cartels, and those who prefer to perpetrate evil for their selfish interests to frustrate our efforts,” Adelabu said.

FG putting in place  initiatives to improve power supply – minister

He said all efforts must be geared towards propelling the country to  the league of  productive nations, adding that Nigeria was looking at reserves that would  eliminate incessant power collapse.

He said the Federal Government was considering the liberalisation of the power sector.

“We also encourage the state government to invest in power generation in their states, ” the minister said.

 

Adelabu listed Abia as one of the states that had invested in power, adding that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) had also granted Ekiti and Enugu State the right to generate tariffs.

The minister said it was worrisome that a lot of investors did not come with their private equity, but had to borrow money from the bank to operate in the sector.

He, however, said that with time,  investors would be made to operate the right way for the benefit of the sector.

The minister  also said that FG was looking at deepening  rural electrification, adding that it would be done in collaboration with the state governments.

Adelabu said there were over 100 uncompleted power projects across the country, adding that those projects would not be energy-efficient without being completed.

Speaking, Mr Kola Adeshina, Group Managing Director, Sahara Power Group, expressed the regret that Nigeria  could not supply electricity efficiently in spite of its abundant gas resources.

He said if electricity was not a  priority in budget provision, it  would  be difficult for the country to work.

 

Adeshina said  Nigeria had the resources to double its power generation.

“If the executive brings an appropriation bill before you(lawmakers) and the power sector is not number two after defence, then don’t allow it.” he said.

He urged government to prioritise industrial areas in power distribution.

“After the industrial areas have had light during the day, we can shift power at night to residential areas because production takes place during the day.

“Let’s sequence our investment along the line of value-added. Nigerians are resilient, we are strong, and we have tenacity. Nigerians are tired of power collapse,” he said.