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Tag: Power Minister

  • Power minister condemns Army’s attack on EKEDC substation in Badagry

    Power minister condemns Army’s attack on EKEDC substation in Badagry

    Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has strongly condemned the recent attack, abduction, and brutalization of staff, as well as the destruction of facilities at the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) substation in Badagry, Lagos State, by personnel of the Nigerian Army.

    The incident, which occurred on Friday, March 14, 2025, followed a temporary power outage and comes less than a week after a similar assault on Ikeja Electric Distribution Company (IKEDC) staff and infrastructure by Nigerian Air Force personnel.

    In a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communications, Bolaji Tunji, Adelabu described the attack as unacceptable and a direct threat to Nigeria’s power stability and economic well-being.

    He called on the National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu, to intervene and rein in security operatives, emphasising that such issues should be handled peacefully, especially in a democratic setting.

    The minister reiterated that electricity infrastructure is the backbone of Nigeria’s economy and a crucial driver of national development.

    “Attacks on these facilities and staff on duty undermine the efforts of the Federal Government to ensure stable and reliable power supply to homes, businesses, and public institutions. The repeated targeting of power infrastructure and the personnel of distribution companies by uniformed personnel, who are expected to protect national assets, are deeply troubling and raises serious concerns about discipline and accountability within our armed forces.”

    The statement further noted that the Nigerian Army was emboldened to attack EKEDC facilities and staff because of the silence of the Federal Government on the earlier invasion of Ikeja Electric by the Air Force. 

     “The NSA has to wade into this matter in order to forestall further attacks”. 

    The Minister said the attack on EKEDC substation has resulted in significant damage, leading to power outages and disruptions in service to thousands of customers. 

    “This comes at a time when the government is working tirelessly to improve the efficiency and reliability of the power sector. Such actions are counterproductive and sabotage the collective progress we are striving to achieve”.  

    He called on the Nigerian Army to immediately investigate this incident and bring the perpetrators to justice. 

    Read Also: Power minister seeks U.S. collaboration with Africa to end energy poverty

    “The Ministry of Power also urges the military high command to take urgent steps to educate and sensitize its personnel on the importance of protecting critical national infrastructure. The repeated occurrence of such incidents suggests a systemic issue that must be addressed with the utmost urgency”.  

    Adelabu said the power ministry remains committed to working with all stakeholders to safeguard power infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted electricity supply to all Nigerians. 

    The Minister said though he recognises the sensitive role of the military in safeguarding the country and protecting its assets, the military should see the power sector as a partner in progress and not its enemy. 

    “We appeal to all Nigerians, including members of the armed forces, to recognize the importance of protecting our power infrastructure. These facilities are vital to our collective prosperity, and their destruction harms us all”.  

  • Power minister puts cart before horse

    Power minister puts cart before horse

    Power minister Adebayo Adelabu last week gloated that some 40 percent of Nigerians enjoyed about 20-hour electricity supply daily. He is probably right, and it is indeed a feat unprecedented in contemporary Nigeria. To him he has found and developed a power supply and eco-friendly paradigm that appears capable of resolving decades of inefficiency in the sector. Generators are less in use, and noise pollution greatly reduced. On the surface, he has done very well.

    Read Also: FG recognises outstanding young achievers

    The problem, however, is that his probably serendipitous paradigm repudiates his initial promise to do price discrimination that protects the less affluent. It is true that his policy is generating a lot of revenue for power companies, but not only has he started to obliterate the stratification he spoke profoundly and empathetically about months ago, he is today herding everybody – class be damned – into the same Band A category. The objective originally was to provide sufficient electricity to all people, despite paying differential tariffs; now the minister’s goal is to provide power to all people who must pay exorbitantly despite not being able to afford it. It is iniquitously putting the cart before the horse.

  • Power Minister commits heads of agencies, directors to performance contracts

    Power Minister commits heads of agencies, directors to performance contracts

    The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has asked heads of agencies and directors under his ministry to sign a performance contract.

    The signing was carried out at the end of extensive meetings with all the heads of the agencies and directors in the ministry.

    Adedibu said the essence of the contract is to ensure that all the stakeholders work in synergy with the mindset of meeting a set target.

    The contracts specified key performance indicators or metrics to measure performance.

    The minister said the move is aimed at ensuring that all agencies in the power sector deliver on their targets and contribute to the overall achievement of the ministry’s goals.

    The Minister expressed confidence that the signing of the performance contracts will compel each agency to deliver on their targets.

    He said: “I’m telling you that we are going to deliver some key mandates of the ministry. So those mandates are going to cast a pivot to the ministry and all the leaders on that. So we know that there are specific responsibilities that are delivered, expected of each CEO of an agency.”

    The performance contract, he further explained “can serve as a supervisory, monitoring, and oversight platform for the ministry of power and all the agencies under it.”

    He added: “The contract is a performance, monitoring, and evaluation platform because we all have targets to achieve at the end of the year. And we will not wait until the end of the year or the end of the quarter before we start assessing ourselves.

     “We need to get involved in the works on how we are progressing to achieve your final targets for the quarter in your presentation, how much have you achieved, and what you set out for the year.

    “So what we are doing now at the end of the meeting is to ensure that we sign more like a performance bond or a performance contract that will compel each and every one of us to deliver on our targets. If you remember that sometime in November 2023, as the Minister of Power and as the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power, we both signed a performance contract with Mr. President that actually summarized on a high level what Mr. President expects of us as Minister and Permanent Secretary on the ministry we should pretend on, which also includes all the agencies that work with the ministry.

    “We signed that high-level performance contract. Now, we have cascaded that performance agreement down into the various relevant ministerial departments and agencies that will contribute to the overall achievement of what we signed with the President.

    “As you know it’s a top-down approach while it’s also a bottom-up approach.

    “Every department in the ministry and every agency that we have has one or two roles to play in the achievement of the overall targets.

    “And we believe that a chain is as strong as its weakest link. So, we don’t want any of our ministerial departments or agencies to drop the ball. We must be focused.

    And I’m happy at the enthusiasm, at the response of everybody involved here today, which gives me some level of assurance and confidence that our overall targets will be achieved. That is what we are signing today.

    Read Also: Alleged N33.8m fraud: former Power Minister Mamman gets N10b bail

    “In terms of sanctions, let me tell you that I will not sit here today and start ruling out sanctions that will be demoted out to non-performance because I am confident that we are all going to deliver.

    “Just like the performance delivery is top-down, the reward will also be top-down on achievement.

    “Then, sanctions too, will be top-down. Depending on the sanctions that Mr. President is going to meet out to a non-performing minister and a non-performing council, we will determine the sanctions that will be met out to everybody involved here.

    “So there’s no express or specific sanctions, they will just be that we do our best and put in our best to make sure we achieve our targets.”

  • Power minister and his power bank

    Power minister and his power bank

    SIR: A few days ago, I stumbled upon a photo, shared by a X (twitter) user, of Bayo Adelabu, the Minister of Power, supposedly using a power bank to charge his mobile phone while at a formal event.

    Unbelievable as it may seem, but it is likely to be probable, especially as electricity in the country has been unstable in recent weeks and it affects everyone. I recall reading in the news some time ago that the Senate could not hold a plenary recently because of a power outage.

    Adelabu was quick to blame the situation on the low supply of gas to power-generating companies. Meanwhile, Nigerians have labelled him “a failed power minister” forgetting that the electricity woes of the country did not start today. And I dare say that the end is not in sight.

    Was it not just last month that the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, AEDC, released a list of its high-ranking debtors, among which were the Presidential Villa, the Ministry of Finance, and quite surprisingly, the Ministry of Power, among others? The AEDC reported an accumulated debt of N47 billion. Is it not curious that government agencies and ministries default in paying bills as important as the “NEPA bill”?

    If the government itself is not fulfilling its obligation to pay its bills, how can it expect everyone else to? And how do they hope to resolve the country’s years-long power woes? These are not just questions of comfort; they are questions of progress. The political class should lead by example!

    There is the issue of regular national grid collapses too. Despite significant investment, the national grid continues to be fragile, plunging the entire country into darkness with frustrating regularity. This is not just an inconvenience; it is a major hurdle to economic growth and development that the government has yet to find a lasting solution to. The recent grid collapse on February 4, serves as a stark reminder of the urgent need to address our power sector frustrations.

    Read Also: BREAKING: Power Minister summons AEDC, IBEDC, TCN over erratic electricity supply

    Beyond technical issues, another significant culprit is the perpetual problem of electricity cable vandalism. These acts of theft are more than just a nuisance. This year alone, the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has reported about five incidents across the country. In all the cases, no arrests have been made, making me wonder about the efforts of the government to secure these crucial infrastructures. The motives behind this crime are varied. Some steal copper cables to sell on the black market, while others target transformers for their oil. Regardless of the reason, the impact is undeniable.  A single incident can disrupt the power supply to thousands of homes and businesses, stalling economic activity and straining already-stretched resources.

    It is in light of these myriad challenges that Adebayo aspires to push the country’s electricity generation to 20,000 megawatts by 2025. His aspiration seems overly optimistic with the frequency of power cuts in the country today. Nigeria’s current power generation hovers around 4,000 megawatts, leaving millions without access to reliable electricity. Eighty-six million Nigerians lack access to electricity, according to a report by the World Bank. This makes Nigeria the country with the largest number of people without access to electricity globally.

    Of course, Nigerians deserve better. We deserve a power sector that functions as a reliable engine for growth, not a flickering candle offering fleeting moments of light. Only time will tell if Adebayo’s plan will illuminate a path towards a brighter future for Nigeria’s power sector. But until it happens, I would advise every Nigerian to take a cue from our power minister: get a power bank so as to not run out of battery on mobile devices—a solar power bank for that matter, since there might be no electricity to charge an electric-powered one.

    • Ezinwanne Onwuka, ezinwanne.dominion@gmail.com.

  • And Peavey peeves Power Minister

    Our brothers from much more ordered climes often visit us with a mindset that is sometimes as derisive as it is warped. Their oft distorted worldview about us could a times, graze on the fringes of idiocy. Here is a joke told us long ago in school by one of our American-trained don which will explain our point today.

    At an international scholars’ seminar in the States, a Chinese scholar, let’s call him Wang, had supped rather noisily on his soup during lunch break. It was as if he had never had soup so good. Now an American scholar who had watched it all obviously in veiled disgust had sidled up to Wang after meal and sniggered jokingly: “You enjoyed the soupe?”

    “Yes, yes,” the oriental professor answered without giving away anything.

    Not long after, Professor Wang took to the podium and literally set the hall ablaze – in a manner of speaking. He had delivered a world class paper in perfect American accent. As he walked back to his seat amid standing ovation from his peers from across the world, he paused ever so briefly by his American ‘friend’ who is still standing reverently and quipped: “You enjoyed the speeche?”

    Prejudice and superiority complex are parts of human nature it must be said but sometimes when served with a distasteful dose of mischief and insult, they sure rankle. This must be the case in the small matter between the Managing Director of Egbin Power Plc., Mr. Dallas Peavey Jnr. and the Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola.

    Addressing some visiting American Senators at his plant recently, Peavey had painted a very dire and dismal picture of the situation at his plant and by extension, the power sector in general. According to report, Peavey told his guests that his plant suffered under an industry-wide debt burden of N125 billion; he also told them that The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) could not evacuate mere 700 megawatts generated by his plant.

    Peavey’s statement of course left the Minister in charge of Power peeved. Like Mr. Wang above, Fashola happens to know his beat a bit and he minced no words in letting the American know that he was either trading in mischief or outright lies. He marched his words with figures as he is wont: only N27 billion of the touted debt has been verified and Egbin plant can only generate 344mw at the time of report because three of its six turbines were not functioning.

    There is no doubt here who has all the facts and who understands the fine details. With most other government gumps, Peavey may have gotten away with what may be mere unthinking bombast – but not with Fash.

  • Senate seeks appointment of separate power minister

    Senate seeks appointment of separate power minister

    The poor power generation and distribution in the country took the center stage in the Senate yesterday.

    After over one hour of debate on ways and means to improve the near moribund power sector, the upper chamber resolved to ask President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a separate power minister with further delay.

    The Senate insisted that the appointment of a separate power minister would ensure concentration in the power sector.

    Senator Francis Alimikhena (Edo North) who moved the motion for the appointment of a separate minister of power, posited that such a measure would assist the country to shore up the power sector.

    The senate resolution followed the adoption of a motion on “The need to establish and delegate Special Purpose Vehicles to execute and operate Major Power Sector Development Projects,” sponsored by Senator Mustapha Bukar (Katsina North)

    Senator Bukar in his lead debate said that the National Assembly enacted the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act, 2005 on March 11, 2005, which kick-started the process of privatization of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) towards developing a Competitive Electricity Market with the establishment of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to provide for the licensing and regulation of the entire value chain of the Nigerian Electricity Market (NEM)

    He also noted that the privatization exercise became effective on November 1, 2013 when the unbundled Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was sold and transferred to successful bidders of the 6 Generation Companies (GENCOs) and the 11 Distribution Companies (DISCOs), while the ownership and control of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) was retained by the Federal Government for strategic reasons.

    He said “Further notes that in its quest to bridge the power gap for sustained economic growth in Nigeria by adding significant new generation capacity to Nigeria’s electricity supply system, the Federal Government conceived the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) in 2004, which metamorphosed into Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC) incorporated in 2005.

    Read also: http://staging.thenationonlineng.net/buhari-remains-only-credible-candidate-for-2019-election/

    “Aware that this institution oversees Generation portfolio consisting of 10 gas-fired power plants with cumulative design capacity of 4,774 MW; Total Asset value of $8.5 Bn including generation projects accompanied by supporting transmission, distribution and gas infrastructure projects and due to gas supply shortage and uncompleted transmission projects, only about 1,200 MW was accessible to the national grid at that time.

    “Consequently upon the commencement of the privatization and establishment of the Nigerian Electricity Market, the role of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works & Housing (FMPW&H) was restricted to Policy and oversight of the autonomous agencies operating in the Nigerian Power Sector; these are the:

    Transmission Company of Nigeria; National Power Training Institute of Nigeria; Nigerian Electricity Liability Management Limited (NELMCO); Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Rural Electrification Agency

    “Notes that considering the need for continuous development of the Power Sector infrastructure, the Federal Government remains committed to developing project initiatives in order to increase generating capacity and diffuse the energy mix beyond thermal generation to renewable energy, such as hydro-power, solar power and wind energy.

    Consequently, certain project initiatives were retained for direct supervision by the Federal Ministry of Power. These included, but are not limited to:

     3,050 MW Mambilla Hydropower project; 700 MW Zungeru Hydropower project,  215 MW Kaduna Thermal Power project; 50 MW Katsina Wind Power project

    “Further Notes that annually significant and incremental sums are appropriated towards these projects and the National Assembly has been approving such appropriation in the interest of conceived intention to improved generation capacity to the Nigerian citizens;

    “Worried that there are challenges of managing such projects because the Federal Ministry of Power, as currently constituted, does not have the required professional competence and resources to effectively execute these projects, hence they resort to engaging contractors and consultants for every project development activity;

    “Also worried that the implementation of large scale projects is always fraught with the risk of cost and schedule overrun, with attendant consequences on overall contract sum;

    “Notes that turnkey Engineering, Procurement & Construction (EPC) projects have FIDIC Conditions of Contract being applicable with strict provisions for liquidated damages, such as fixed contract sum and set delivery period. Unfortunately, these conditions of contract cannot be met under the setting of a ministry;

    “Further notes that necessary project management controls needed for effective delivery are not enforceable on the Federal Ministry of Power; these are:

    Cost Control, Schedule Control, Quality Assurance (Q-plan, Q-criteria, etc.), Procurement Control (personnel, inspection and expedition), Design Control (Design compliance and value engineering), Change Order Control (Management of scope variations); Document Control (Review & timely approval of designs).

    “Worried that with the engagement of multitudes of consultants, there is a risk of lack of ownership and knowledge transfer upon completion and commissioning of the projects, which would hamper proper management of the facilities when in operation. This is the current situation being experienced at the 215 MW Kaduna Power plant under construction by the Ministry;

    “Aware that Nigeria has had successful record of implementing several mega infrastructure projects to completion and it is imperative to draw on such models utilized for refineries, fertilizer plants and steel mills (Kaduna and Port Harcourt Refineries, National Fertilizer Company of Nigeria Plc (NAFCON), Delta Steel Company Limited and the 3 Inland Rolling Mills). Each of these Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) had full management team and foundation staff to manage the execution of the project on site. Upon completion, the Project Managers were appointed as the Managing Directors, while full-stream staff members were recruited prior to commissioning the projects;

    “Further aware that when the Federal Government was keen to build Gas based power plants, it created the Niger Delta Power Holding Company of Nigeria (NDPHC) to build, manage and operate these schemes. Although some of the power generating plants have been sold, NDPHC has continued to own and run these plants while the Government is preparing to sell the remaining plants;

    “Worried that with the privatization of the power sector, the Federal Ministry of Power, Works & Housing is rapidly expanding its project implementation activities rather than   limit its role to General Policy direction pursuant to Section 33 of the EPSR Act 2005.

    This attitude has not given the regulatory body, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and other agencies created by the Reform Act the enabling environment to develop their capacity to regulate and create the electricity market required to attract investment in the sector. This assertion is evidenced by the fact that over N100billion has been provided for the construction of power projects by the ministry under the 2017 budget. Recently, the Federal government announced the approval of over $5billion for the construction of the Mambila hydro project under the ministry.”

    Also read: Rich Nigerians should pay more tax- Senate

    The Katsina State lawmaker prayed the Senate to accordingly resolve to urge the Federal Government to immediately incorporate SPVs for the implementation of the following alternative energy projects:a. Hydropower Projects; b. Solar Power Projects; and c. Wind Power Projects;

    Urge the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing to use gas as the source of Energy for the Kaduna Project in accordance with the original project concept and the MOU signed with gas suppliers to complete the project as  adequate provision has been made for the project in the 2017 Budget;

    Urge the Federal Government to employ qualified management team to take charge of the project development in the SPVs and gradually resource the companies in readiness for full operations when the projects  are commissioned;

     Urge the Federal Government to transfer all generation, transmission and rural electrification projects to the respective agencies for proper administration;

    Urge the above-named SPV’s when created to comply with the provisions of the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act by applying to NERC for the generation licenses and to the TCN for Grid inter-connection approval.

    All the prayers were adopted.

  • And Peavey peeves Power Minister

    Our brothers from much more ordered climes often visit us with a mindset that is sometimes as derisive as it is warped. Their oft distorted worldview about us could a times, graze on the fringes of idiocy. Here is a joke told us long ago in school by one of our American-trained don which will explain our point today.

    At an international scholars’ seminar in the States, a Chinese scholar, let’s call him Wang, had supped rather noisily on his soup during lunch break. It was as if he had never had soup so good. Now an American scholar who had watched it all obviously in veiled disgust had sidled up to Wang after meal and sniggered jokingly: “You enjoyed the soupe?”

    “Yes, yes,” the oriental professor answered without giving away anything.

    Not long after, Professor Wang took to the podium and literally set the hall ablaze – in a manner of speaking. He had delivered a world class paper in perfect American accent. As he walked back to his seat amid standing ovation from his peers from across the world, he paused ever so briefly by his American ‘friend’ who is still standing reverently and quipped: “You enjoyed the speeche?”

    Prejudice and superiority complex are parts of human nature it must be said but sometimes when served with a distasteful dose of mischief and insult, they sure rankle. This must be the case in the small matter between the Managing Director of Egbin Power Plc., Mr. Dallas Peavey Jnr. and the Minster of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola.

    Addressing some visiting American Senators at his plant recently, Peavey had painted a very dire and dismal picture of the situation at his plant and by extension, the power sector in general. According to report, Peavey told his guests that his plant suffered under an industry-wide debt burden of N125 billion; he also told them that The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) could not evacuate mere 700 megawatts generated by his plant.

    Peavey’s statement of course left the Minister in charge of Power peeved. Like Mr. Wang above, Fashola happens to know his beat a bit and he minced no words in letting the American know that he was either trading in mischief or outright lies. He marched his words with figures as he is wont: only N27 billion of the touted debt has been verified and Egbin plant can only generate 344mw at the time of report because three of its six turbines were not functioning.

    There is no doubt here who has all the facts and who understands the fine details. With most other government gumps, Peavey may have gotten away with what may be mere unthinking bombast – but not with Fash.

  • Power Minister, call Abule Egba PHCN to order

    SIR: I am a law-abiding citizen and feel it is a duty to pay my electricity bills and by God’s grace this I have never failed to do. And at all time my account with the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN reads credit. I understand the times in the land and do not expect that even with that I should get constant power supply, but this has never discouraged me knowing that in the foreseeable future and as the Jonathan power sector reform agenda starts to yield fruit, I and many others will see that it is always better to be on the right side of the law.

    But alas, for all this, PHCN at the Abule Egba area in Lagos has been crazy enough to cut off the light supply of a wide area in Abule Egba ensuring that I and many others do not get even the little light that usually comes to us after their load shedding.

    Reason? To punish those who are owing them. I now ask: should those who are paying PHCN suffer because of those who are not paying? Why throw out the baby with the bathwater? Where is justice? Would this type of action not discourage those who are paying? The right thing is for them to go after those who owe them and cut their light. If they are scared of going to their houses to do that they could go with the police. I do not encourage impunity. But even God himself would not have destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah if he had found one just man in those cities.

    I and other law-abiding people should not suffer for the crime of others. Or does PHCN’s mandate include denying those who are paying light supply?

    The power sector reform has made PHCN staff to carry on like those with a chip on their shoulder. Never mind the payoff. Not all have even gotten it with the handover date close. So they are like angry wild animals. And they will not leave without biting off the flesh of the people.

    Dr Cosmas Odoemena,

    Lagos