Minister Calls Power Firms To Account Over Worsening Supply

• Power minister summons Abuja, Ibadan Discos over poor supply
• TCN MD also called over nationwide electricity woes
• Discos face sanctions for deliberate underperformance

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has summoned electricity distribution companies in Abuja and Ibadan over declining power supply in their areas.

The Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule Abdulazeez, was also summoned regarding the nationwide deterioration in electricity since January.

In a letter, the minister ordered the CEOs to attend a meeting on the worsening supply despite improved transmission from TCN. “These two discos have been summoned due to the worsening power supply situation in their regions despite improved supply from TCN,” Adelabu stated.

The minister accused some Discos of deliberately not taking available power from TCN, while vandals damaged lines in Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt and Ibadan. “Wilful non-performance by any disco could suffice as a reason for severe punishment or outright license revocation,” he warned.

Adelabu directed TCN to immediately commence repairs on damaged towers and lines. He recently visited power plants across Nigeria and promised action on debts owed to generation and gas supply firms. “With this, succour is close to electricity consumers nationwide as we expect this action to improve generation levels across the country,” he said.

The minister appealed for patience while the situation was addressed. Findings revealed about $1 billion in debts to gas producers, who provide gas to run thermal power plants. Vandalism of transmission infrastructure has also led to grid instability and reduced power delivery nationwide.

“Gas shortage notwithstanding, the ministry had been putting pressure on the power generating companies to improve performance and generation had been ramped up to over 4,000 megawatts in recent days,” Adelabu noted.

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