Power outages are result of old and wrecked infrastructure says Nebo.

[FMINigeria]

                        The Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo has said that the sector is bedevilled primarily by old and wrecked infrastructure, hence the frequent break downs and blackout.

While speaking in Abuja, when the Senate Committee on Power visited on oversight assignment, Professor Nebo said, "For instance, only yesterday, we had a report that a 34 years old sub-station located in Ikeja Disco has been gutted by fire which would result in 20% power-cut in the area.   At Egbin, I also got a report of failure due to no maintenance of infrastructure; all these have contributed to the present low capacity to generate and distribute power".

Senate Comittee on Power on oversight visit to the Ministry, L-R, Sen. Dr Chris Ngige,Vice Chairman, Philip Aduda, Chairman, Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo,Minister of State for Power, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi and PS, Power Amb. Dr Godknows Igali in Abuja. He said, as it is the practice in Nigeria to have abandoned projects scattered across the country, there are in the sector, especially in the now resuscitated Rural Electrification Programme and Distribution networks.

While seeking the support of the legislature in appropriation of fund for these projects, the Minister said that it is imperative to get these projects completed because power sector is unique, you can only use these facilities when they are completed.

As tested and distinguished professionals, he urged the Committee to do more, just as he observed that the road to realization of stable power in the country is rough.  He expressed optimism that going by the positive signals, the near hopeless situation, would be reversed soon.  "In the last 2 years, we had a time when we could barely generate 2,000MW, but today, we have peaked at over 4,000MW".

The Minister informed the Committee that Mr. President has only granted the approval to the Ministry to keep all the plants going until final hand-over, adding that "The Presidency has asked that we work with stakeholders in finding alternative sources of funding that would ensure that the system does not collapse".

Also speaking at the occasion, the Minister of State for Power, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim Kuchi enjoined the Committee's support in the provision of fund in 2014 budget to address critical areas like backlog of debt owned.

On rural electrification projects, the Minister spoke of repositioning the National Power Training Institute through commercialization, so as to make it have the trapping of an international organization.

She also tasked the Committee on the planned review of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (EPSR 2005) to reflect the current realities in the sector.

Hajiya Kuchi also spoke of the need for the Legislature to assist in the proposed adjustment that brings the 30% bench mark for the host Communities to 10%, for Hydro-Electric Power Producing Area Development Commission (HYPPADEC).  She reasoned that now that most of the power generation companies would be privatized, the adjustment would attract foreign investment in the power sector.

While responding to the Minister, the Chairman, Senator Philip Aduda said that in order to avoid litigations or other problems that could reverse the modest pains recorded in the on-going reform, he advised that all labour related issues should be resolved amicably.

Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria