The Nation Newspaper

Tag: power supply

  • Eko Disco apologises to Lagos residents over irregular power supply

    Eko Disco apologises to Lagos residents over irregular power supply

    The management of the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) on Sunday apologised to its consumers over the irregular power supply.

    General Manager Corporate Communications, Mr Godwin Idemudia, said the epileptic supply was due to last week’s system collapse on the national grid.

    Idemudia, said the system collapse resulted in nationwide blackout.

    The General Manager said for the past five days, power supply to electricity consumers under Eko Disco has been epileptic.

    “Until Generation goes up, there is nothing we can do now because National Grid (NG) is the only source of our supply.

    “We feel your pains.

    “We are, therefore, appealing to customers to bear with us, as supply will be restored as soon as these repairs are concluded.

    “EKEDC highly regrets any inconveniences caused by this irregular supply,” he said.

    Nigeria on Jan.2 was thrown into a nationwide blackout as the country suffered total collapse of its power system grid.

    The collapse followed a fire incident on Nigerian Gas Processing and Transportation Company Ltd (NGPTC’s) Escravos Lagos Pipeline System, which supplies gas to plants generating 3,182 Mega Watt (MW). All the plants shut down.

    These plants include Egbin 1,320MW; Olorunsogo National Integrated Power Plant (NIPP) 676MW; Olorunsogo 338MW; Omotosho NIPP 450MW; Omotosho 338 MW and Paras 60MW power stations.

    The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, which confirmed the collapse and the shutdown of gas supply to the plants, described the incident as a setback to the power sector. (NAN)

  • ‘Why businesses are leaving Abuja’

    ‘Why businesses are leaving Abuja’

    Firms are leaving the capital city but if the authorities can reduce the taxes, and boost power supply and security, among other measures, investors will reconsider, JIDE BABALOLA writes

    Unnecessary friction between government agencies, corruption and multiple taxation by Federal Capital Territory (FCT) agencies are major discouraging signals for Nigerian and international investors in Abuja, Mr Benson Ezem, an architect, has said.

    According to Ezem, a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, whose Cosmobase Nigeria Limited owns investments in hospitality, real estate and other sectors of the economy, it is quite possible for Abuja to adopt a pragmatic plan for change towards attracting more Nigerian and international investors.

    Asserting that an agreeable investment environment can improve Abuja’s chances in competing with Lagos and other states, he stressed that the high rate of youth unemployment that fuels crime can best be addressed by increased private sector investment.

    Among other recommendations, he urges the Federal Government to urgently avert a repeat of the inter-agency friction and confrontation whereby armed men from two agencies threaten a showdown with one another.

    He said, “The EFCC/DSS saga alone sends out very wrong signals abroad, businessmen and countries that are our potential investors are all watching this nation; if there are frictions between two security agencies, that does not send a right signal.

    “How would a potential foreign investor want to go to a place where he is not sure of his security when people naturally feel discouraged about investing in places known for potentially dangerous confrontations or friction?” he asked.

    According to Ezem who is also the proprietor of Jades Hotel in Abuja, the problem of multiple taxation and other charges are big enough to require special government consultation with stakehoders towards redressing various challenges and encouraging more investment in Abuja.

    “We businessman with investment in the hospitality business in Abuja are battling with a complex tax system, from the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) alone, we have almost eight different types of taxes, there is environmental charges from the same office, and you have to pay the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company, the Water Board, they give you meter and still they don’t rate you through these meter.

    “All these are strangulating investment and a five-star hotel chain that I wanted to bring to Abuja to help provide more employment and economic multipliers decided not to invest here after assessing the prevailing tax system.

    “I want to ask the Federal Government, the FCT Minister and other relevant authorities to look into these because the industries in Abuja are not many and some of them are already moving out of Abuja to go and invest in other places.

    “It is time they look into these, with the number of people in Abuja, the government alone cannot employ all, we need to attract investors and industrialists here but they are sending us away, telling us to invest in other places.

    “President Buhari and the FCT Minister should invite the stakeholders here and agencies that are responsible for these multiple taxation on businesses to sit together and find solutions that will also help us curb insecurity and increase youth employment in the FCT.

    The issues about ease of doing business is not just about easy online registration of new businesses; is it easy getting an industrial plot of land in Abuja for development, the answer is ‘No’.

    “We applied for an estate land in 2012 but up till now, no land has been given; instead they expect us to buy the one vendors are selling around for up to one billion Naira and you can’t get direct allocation for industrial purpose while there are lots of plots allocated but lying unused in Idu Industrial area.

    “Such allocations were not going into the hands of people that will use them and provide employment; they were going into the hand of politicians and their agents,” Ezem stated.

     

  • Oluwo decries poor power supply

    The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi, has decried unstable power supply in his domain.

    The monarch said the development has destabilised the youths from engaging in productive ventures.

    The royal father spoke after his visit to the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola(SAN), in Abuja.

    According to him, stable electricity would have helped the youths to contribute meaningfully to the economy.

    Oba Akanbi said one of his visions before ascending the throne was to develop the youths, whom he described as the future of the society. He said all hands must be on deck to enure the youths get meaningful ventures.

    The monarch urged Nigerians to be patient with Fashola due to numerous challenges associated with his assignment.

    According to him, the three ministries under Fashola’s supervision are key to the country’s socio-economic strength. He said Fashola needed the understanding of all to succeed.

    Speaking from his experience as a private sector stakeholder in Canada, Oba Akanbi said the global economic meltdown naturally affects local economies, hence, the seeming slow motion experienced in the three ministries, to the dismay of the people who had expected so much from the minister.

    “What I have seen so far has assured me that the minster is a proactive person, who does not rush into doing things until after a long planning. He appreciates the role of planning and that was what he first did that many seem not to understand, but would understand when results start coming,” the monarch said.

  • Osun promises investors regular power supply

    Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu (SAN) has assured investors of his administration’s determination to provide regular power supply.

    He said facilities needed to ensure a seamless take-off of investments were being provided for them.

    Akeredolu spoke yesterday in Akure, the state capital, when his administration signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two investors – Greenfield Poultry and Powdered Eggs Project as well as Adventum Limited.

    The MoU, the governor said, would ensure that he fulfils his promise to the people.

    Greenfield Poultry and powdered eggs factory will be sited at Emure-Ile.

    Akeredolu said the road to the factory would be tarred to demonstrate his administration’s commitment.

    The governor said regular power supply would be provided to industrial areas.

    He expressed delight at the readiness of the company to execute the project, saying it will provide jobs.

    Greenfield Assets Group Managing Director Mr Paul Obanua described the project as the first in Nigeria.

    He said the company would produce over 100 million broilers annually.

    Obanua said: “The company will export powdered eggs abroad shortly after it takes off to boost the state’s economy.

    “On November 20, the ground-breaking ceremony will be held in Akure.”

    He added that the project is supported by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under its commercial agriculture credit scheme.

    On the team of Greenfield Assets are: the Branch Controller, CBN, Mr. Fatai Yusuf; Head of Development Finance, CBN, Mr. Gabriel Ajimoko; Chief Operating Officer, Greenfield, Mr. Ugochukwu Umeseaka and Head, Agric-Business, Mr. Tony Oweazim.

     

  • Power supply improves in Uyo as Ibom power md marks one year in office

    Residents of Osongama, Ewet housing estate, Nwaniba, Shelter Afrique, Four-lane and Le Meridien Ibom Hotel axis have reported that they are experiencing improvements in power supply in their homes.

    Some of the residents who took to social media platform, Facebook to share their experience said they had between to 15hours to 18hours steady power supply daily.

    “Nwaniba almost 15hours a day, I’m sure” a Facebook user, Kriss Ukpong posted. “I enjoy more than 18hours, even enjoy 24hrs uninterrupted power supply some days in my area” posted another Facebook user, Victorysylvanus Umoh.

    Speaking on the development during the thanksgiving service held at Ibom power plant site in Ikot Abasi to mark his one year in office, the Managing Director of Ibom Power Company Limited Engr. Meyen Etukudo attributed the improvement in power supply to the newly completed and commissioned 2 x 15MVA, 33kV/11kV injection substation at four-lane in Uyo.

    Engr. Etukudo said the 2 x 15MVA injection substation constructed by Governor Udom Emmanuel has increased power distribution to parts of Uyo by 24Megawatts which is the reason residents of those areas now have steady and quality power supply at 240volts daily.

    He said “in addition to the 2 x 15MVA substation at four-lane, there is a similar 2 x 15MVA at the Airport; a 2 x 15MVA on IBB Avenue and Oron road and there is a 1 x 2.5MVA Point-Load Substation at Tropicana with on-going plan to have another 2 x 15MVA around the stadium road”.

    “When these power infrastructures are fully implemented, power supply in Uyo will be stabilized and more reliable” the MD said.

    On the efforts being made to ensure steady power supply is replicated in other parts of the state, Engr. Etukudo, who is also the Special Assistant (Power) to the Governor said the 4th 132/33kV, 2 x 60MVA substation located at Ekim in Mkpat Enin LGA which will ensure steady power supply to five Local Government Areas in the state – Mkpat Enim, Onna, Ikot Abasi, Eastern Obolo and Orukanam, will be commissioned soon.

    Speaking further on how these power infrastructure will drive Governor Udom Emmanuel’s vision of industrializing Akwa Ibom State, Engr. Etukudo said the 132/33kV, 2 x 60MVA substation at Ekim will also ensure steady power supply to Akwa Ibom State University (AKSU) and the emerging industries in that axis – the Metering factory, Flour Mill, Coconut Refinery and the Syringe factory.

    The MD who expressed gratitude to God for the successes recorded in Akwa Ibom State power sector in last one year said over 50 electricity intervention projects have been executed across the 31 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Akwa Ibom State by the office of the SA on Power.

    He appreciated the staff and Management of Ibom power for their steadfastness and support in the last 365 days. “I am optimistic that the next 365 days at Ibom power will be much better” he said.

     

     

  • Power supply ‘ll be better from next month, says minister

    More power will be available to enable better supply to homes from next month, Minister of Power Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola said yesterday at the University of Lagos.

    He spoke during a lecture delivered at an event – “Power sector reform In Nigeria: challenges and the way forward.”

    “We are working round the clock to solve the (power supply) problem. We are going to get more power by August.

    “How we get equipment, transformers, and all of the equipment needed within the next cycle of 60 to 90 days is critical so that we don’t lose all that energy that is coming from the raining season,” he added.

    The Pro-Chancellor of UNILAG,  Dr Wale Babalakin (SAN), said the only solution to Nigeria’s problems is “first class education”.

    Giving a remark at the event , Babalakin said: “The most enduring solution to Nigeria’s problems is applied intelligence and this can only be attained through first class education. In thinking of this solution, we must be creative. We have a fair idea of the resources of the government. It is only through very serious technical application to very good resources that we can solve our problems.

    “There is need for cerebral application of our resources. We have everything; we just need a change of attitude. The most gifted people are not those with aptitude, but those with attitude. Aptitude is great with natural resources but attitude can be developed. I urge the intelligentsia, let us collectively develop the solution.

    “It is sad that we are far behind in education and we are indifferent. How do we resolve this? Let us all collectively find a solution. Education, as the engine room for the resolution of Nigeria’s problems, must be fostered.”

    In his lecture, Fashola said “If you don’t pay for electricity, you have violated a law. But we are now trying to make that law stronger, and we are looking at how to include fines and to increase the consequences. We want to make it easier to comply than to violate,” he said.

    He also explained that meters are calibrated differently for different distribution companies, adding that for a meter to be transferred, it has to be recalibrated by the distribution company in its new area of use.

    “There are different types of consumers and therefore they require different kinds of meters. Meters are calibrated differently for each distribution company. So, the meter that Ikeja disco has –  if you move them from Ikeja disco, they must be recalibrated before you can use them. If you use the wrong meter, you’ll pay the wrong tariff,” he warned.

    On the agitation to cancel the privatisation of the power sector, the power minister said, “Instead of saying ‘cancel the privatisation,’ I would rather say, let us rework the privatisation and re-engineer it to make it work.

    “When people ask us to cancel the privatisation, I ask them how that impacts our moving forward when we demonstrate that we are a nation that cancels a respecting contract. Where are we going to get the dollars to refund (the contractors)? Because they paid in dollars and I don’t think they would accept naira. We cannot keep canceling, there must be a point where we can make things work and I guess that is what this administration is about. We can make it work,” the minister said.

  • Don tasks FG on improved power supply

    Dr Kenneth Idiodi, a university don has impressed on the federal government the need to improve the source of power supply in the country.

    Idiodi gave this charge at a lecture tagged: ‘Nigeria Socio-Economic Development: An Improvement Agenda’ organised in Lagos.

    Waxing philosophical, Idiodi who is also the Director, Supreme Board, Rosicrucian Order, said: “Nigeria needs three major things for socio-economic development- number one is electricity or energy otherwise called power. Number two is electricity or energy otherwise called power, and the number three is electricity or energy otherwise called power.”

    One way to address the lingering economic recession, he said, is for the government to: “Pump billions into energy so graduates will go into entrepreneurship, people that are into vocational works will enjoy themselves, barbers and others into small scale businesses apart from large scale enterprises will thrive.”

    Going down memory lane, he recalled that: “Those of us who knew the era of the Nigerian civil war followed by the oil boom era when one naira was at parity with the GBP (pound sterling) and equivalent to two USD (dollars)…Those of us who saw the era of affluence with ostentatious lifestyle of most Nigerians spraying dollars at social parties with unimaginable extravagance and reckless profligacy. Those of us who have lived long enough to witness the economic pendulum swing from oil boom to oil doom and requiring not just four naira to one dollar in foreign exchange but nowadays over four hundred naira to a dollar, those of us who have seen in this country a university graduate in the sixties already recruited for the civil service while still in his final year and upon commencement of work offered a personal vehicle on hire-purchase terms but nowadays we are into an era in which years after graduation and after NYSC there is no job in the public or private sector and where one is available, the young man or woman has no entrepreneurial skills to do the work.”

  • Lalong advocates private partnership in power supply

    Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong has promised to partner the Federal Government and private sector investors to ensure increased and stable power supply in the state.

    He was delivering a keynote address at the national power sector meeting held in Jos, the state capital.

    Lalong said: “The Plateau State government is fully committed to working with the Federal Government and private sector investors towards realising increased and stable power supply to our citizens in the urban and rural areas. This will not only improve their social well-being but also enable them to engage in meaningful economic activities.

    “Plateau also has a history of being the launching pad of many programmes and projects not only in the broadcast and solid mineral industries but also in the power sector. We pride ourselves as the home of the first Hydropower Plant in West Africa, which was built and commissioned in 1923.

    “The importance of this National Power Sector meeting cannot be over-emphasised considering that the availability of electric power, is a sine qua non to any meaningful industrial development in a nation.

    “It may interest you to know that the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo was in Jos last week to open the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Clinic, and one of the fundamental factors identified for the success for these enterprises is the availability of regular power supply. This agrees with the emphasis we are putting on infrastructural development as a key policy thrusts of our administration.”

    Lalong said the state is also focusing on maximising its economic potentials in agriculture, solid minerals and tourism.

    Efficient power supply, he said,  would enable investors to add value to agricultural products from the farms, process the minerals from the mines, and improve services at hospitality and tourism industry.

    “It is in the light of this that I wish to appeal to the Honourable Minister to help expedite the completion of the 132KV transmission line, from Makeri to the National Independent Power Plant (NIPP) Sub-Station in Pankshin, to improve the quality and quantity of power supply to the Central and Southern Senatorial Zones of Plateau State, where the bulk of our agricultural activities take place.

    “Two major players in the power sector, Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC) Plc and Nigeria Electricity Supply Company (NESCO) Ltd are located in Plateau State.

    “The Plateau State Government is in active collaboration with both JED Company and NESCO to ease their operations, by creating the enabling environment in terms of security and community relations, as well as investing in the provision of power distribution assets in rural communities.

    “We wish to commend the efforts of the Federal Government for her intervention in this area through the Rural Electrification Agency (REA). However, permit me to further crave your indulgence, Honourable Minister, for the resumption and completion of work at the numerous R.E.A. project sites all over the state, that have now remained abandoned for many years.

    “As a state, we are intervening by trying to complete some of these projects for the benefit of our citizens, but our limited resources will not allow us to take over all of them,” Lalong said.

    He backed the National Power Goal, saying it was not only aimed at improving power supply, but increasing the contribution of renewable energy in the National Energy Mix  as Nigeria joins the world to combat and mitigate the adverse effects of climate change.

    “As you already know, Plateau has the exceptional advantage of enjoying the abundance of four of the Major Renewable Energy Sources of solar, wind, small hydro and biomass.

    “At this juncture, I wish to thank the minister for granting a licence to one of the private sector developers to build and operate a  70 Megawatts solar power generation plant in Panyam, Mangu LGA of Plateau State.

    “We are equally grateful to the European Union and the German Federation, for working through the Nigerian Energy Support Programme (NESP) with Plateau State, to build the first Solar-Powered Mini-Grid Plant in Demshin and Anguwan Rina villages in Plateau State.

    “In addition to this is the building of the first Solar-Powered Water Heating System at Government Science School, Kuru, near Jos. As a government, we have also completed and commissioned a five kilowatts demonstration plant at the Headquarters of the Ministry of Water Resources and Energy, for powering offices using solar energy in our Green City Programme.

    “We have already completed the draft and will soon launch our Renewable Energy Strategy, for up-scaling these initiatives for the benefit of other communities, institutions, office complexes and commercial buildings,” Lalong said.

  • Ogun community protests poor power supply, high tariff

    Residents of Ado-Odo Community Development Association, in Ado- Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ogun State have protested what they described as unjustifiable poor power supply in the area.

    The peaceful protest, which was held at the head office of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Ring Road Ibadan, was embarked upon by community leaders and members of the community.

    The protesters said the current economic hardship experienced in the country is being compounded by epileptic power supply, as many small businesses in the area have been crippled due to lack of electricity supply.

    They claimed that the tariff, which is largely based on estimation, is unjustifiable as it is not commensurate with services rendered.

    Speaking on behalf of the community, the chairman of community development association for power distribution in Ado-Odo, Mr. Abayomi Aina, said the company has not been fair to residents of the community in terms of power supply.

    He said: “We are here to protest the poor power supply in our area. The manager in our local government, Mrs. Falusi purposely drops our light without justifiable reason.

    “We hardly have light a day in a week. When we complained about the abnormality, the manager becomes angry. As a result of this poor power supply, our cables are always stolen. The bills they bring to our people are always outrageous.

    “We have severally presented our case to the IBEDC office in Sango Ota but nothing was done about it. We want you to come to our rescue for our people to enjoy more power supply. We are ready to pay if they give us light.”

  • Ogun community protests poor power supply, high tariff

    Residents of Ado-Odo Community Development Association, in Ado- Odo Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ogun State have protested what they described as unjustifiable poor power supply in the area.

    The peaceful protest, which was held at the head office of the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), Ring Road Ibadan, was embarked upon by community leaders and members of the community.

    The protesters said the current economic hardship experienced in the country is being compounded by epileptic power supply, as many small businesses in the area have been crippled due to lack of electricity supply.

    They claimed that the tariff, which is largely based on estimation, is unjustifiable as it is not commensurate with services rendered.

    Speaking on behalf of the community, the chairman of community development association for power distribution in Ado-Odo, Mr. Abayomi Aina, said the company has not been fair to residents of the community in terms of power supply.

    He said: “We are here to protest the poor power supply in our area. The manager in our local government, Mrs. Falusi purposely drops our light without justifiable reason.

    “We hardly have light a day in a week. When we complained about the abnormality, the manager becomes angry. As a result of this poor power supply, our cables are always stolen. The bills they bring to our people are always outrageous.

    “We have severally presented our case to the IBEDC office in Sango Ota but nothing was done about it. We want you to come to our rescue for our people to enjoy more power supply. We are ready to pay if they give us light.”

    The Chairman of the community association, Alhaji Rahaman Balogun, said the community is ready to pay, provided the company is supplying power to them steadily.

    When contacted, the manager, Mrs. Falusi said members of the community were not paying their bills and that was why the company is not supplying them light regularly.

    The customers care officer in charge of Sango axis for IBEDC Mr. Akinbodunse Shedrach promised to intervene in the matter.

    He compelled the community leaders to ensure prompt payment of their bills in order to enjoy improved power supply in the area.