• Electricity to be restored fully in north in 14 days, says Adelabu
The German Government is to inject $160 million into Nigeria power sector, Mr. Johannes Lehne, German Deputy Ambassador to Nigeria has said.
He said the funding is meant to provide five big transformers to stabilise the grid.
This is coming as Nigeria launched the 3rd phase of the Nigerian Energy Support Programme, NESP, a European Union and German Government funded programme. NESP is aimed to further support Nigeria in building a sustainable energy sector through the expansion of access to clean, efficient and reliable energy.
Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, yesterday also gave reasons why the north suffered total blackout for several days, while assuring full restoration of power in few days.
He said the ongoing engineering work on the vandalised facility has resulted in partial power supply in the north and maintained that the Shiroro-Mando plant where the major sabotage occurred will be fixed in 14 days, even as he assured of full restoration of power supply to the affected areas.
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Adelabu gave the assurance at Government House, Kano, when he paid visit to Governor Abba Yusuf. Yusuf was represented by his Chief of Staff, Shehu Wada Sagagi.
Speaking at the launch of NESP, The German envoy said the programme which is part of Siemens power project is expected to take off in 2025.
NESP which was started in 2013 has benefitted 45,000 people and 105 communities across the country.
The ambassador said:”Now we go into the second phase with the first five big transformers to stabilize the grid and this will cost 160 million dollars which is financed by Germany.”
“Siemens is doing this and now we’re close to signing the contract. Actually it was already supposed to take off last year but it will take off in the beginning of 2025,” he said
The Deputy Ambassador, also re-affirmed the commitment of the German government to Nigeria in achieving its Energy Transition targets.
While in Kano, Adelabu visited the Managing Director of Kano Electricity Distribution Company (KEDCO), Abubakar Yusuf, at the company’s headquarters before visiting the Kano Government House and inspecting power facilities.
“I can assure you that, our people are on the field working day and night for the partial restoration become full restoration.
“Two of the lines from Markudi-Bauchi road that were vandalised, one of them is up now and I have been assured by the engineers on the field that by Sunday we are going to have a fix of the second line, we are going to have full restoration.
“We will continue to work on the main transmission line to the North which is Shiroro-Mando-Kaduna line which may take us about 14 days to fix because of the extend of damage done to these transmission lines.
“They used land mines to blore up these installations and affected a lot of towers and all requires a lot of civil work for them to be fully fixed,” the Power minister said.
He apologised to the Northern region over the power blackout, saying President Bola Tinubu does not intend to discriminate against the region or any section of the country as being perceived by some Nigerians.
He explained that it was not the first time that the country was having these kinds of vandalism from the Shiroro axis. “We had it before and fixed it before the consumers got to know,” he said.
He called on government at all levels to join forces in protecting the power infrastructures across the country.
“We all have a role to play in protecting the power infrastructures including power consumers. A part from the physical security, we need a lot of reorientation of our people against vandalization and power theft,” he advised.
Adelabu expressed the commitment of the federal government to partner with states in developing other alternative power sources.
He said: “State Governments should ensure effective implementation of providing alternative electricity sources, and Discos should also ensure reliable distribution services, while Consumers should utilise electricity efficiently.”
Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf, represented by his Chief of Staff, Shehu Wada Sagagi, informed the minister of the damages caused by the blackout in the region that affected revenue generating ventures, health facilities and daily life activities.
To boost electricity supply in the state, the governor said, the administration in its efforts, is completing work at the 10 megawatts hydropower plant at Tiga and 6 megawatts at Chalawa hydropower plant which are assisting five percent of the population as well as installation of solar power in the metropolis which has assisted the security situation in the state when the administration assumed office.
He said 500 transformers were procured and distributed to improve power supply.
“Leveraging on the 2023 Electricity Act signed by President Bola Tinubu, Kano state will soon establish a state electricity market to attract the private sector in the state.
“We are calling on the president to intervene and set up emergency mini grid power plant that will supply adequate voltage in the state and diversify generation to reduce dependence on the national grid,” he said.
Speaking at the launch and 1% Steering Committee meeting of NESP III, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Mahmuda MAMMAN said: “The Ministry continues to appreciate the EU and German Government for their continuous support to Nigeria, especially for ensuring energy security in the most affordable and sustainable manner”. He stated that the 3” phase of the programme is “a welcome idea” that would build on the achievements of NESP Il by attracting more investments in renewable energy and energy efficiency as well as support towards the objectives of Nigeria’s Electricity Act 2013, aimed at stabilising the electricity market in states.”
Also speaking at the launch, Ms. Inga STEFANOWICZ, Head of Section Green and Digital Economy at the European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS commented that, “achieving a cleaner future is the business of all stakeholders, and the EU has not only continued to support the Nigerian government to achieve its energy security plans but to also achieve a sustainable energy future through the increase of renewables in its electricity mix.
“The EU is pleased to have commissioned an additional funding for the third phase of the programme to continue supporting the development of various frameworks and innovative models, bringing a new landscape to the concept of electricity franchising, attracting renewable energy investments and ensuring reliable power supply to its beneficiaries”, she said.
She further said “Technologies and investments for renewable energy and energy efficiency will be key for diversifying Nigeria’s energy mix and decarbonising the five (5) critical sectors identified in the Energy Transition Plan (ETP).
The third phase of NESP was commissioned by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) with 8.9 Million Euros in May this year. The EU has recently commissioned an additional 9 Million Euros, which increases the total budget of the NESP programme to 17.9 Million Euros. This shows Germany’s and its partners continued commitment to support Nigeria’s set targets in the Energy Transition Plan.”
The Head of Programme, NESP, Mr. Duke BENJAMIN, emphasized that “active participation of and collaboration with the public and private stakeholders is critical to improve availability and reliability of energy in Nigeria. Hence, the 3% phase of programme would offer support – ranging from sustainable energy generation for rural communities, healthcare centres and businesses, efficient utilisation of energy, bridging the energy and electricity data gaps, strengthening private sector investments, and developing the capacities of regulatory agencies and local financial institutions”, he added.
So far, NESP has supported the Nigerian government in creating an enabling environment for local and international investments to thrive energy efficiency, renewable energy and rural electrification investments
fostering investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency and rural electrification, as part of NESP’’s framework on in Nigeria.’