Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has noted that the crises bedevilling the power sector have defiled every attempt at resolution in the past sixty years, but this Bola Tinubu administration is committed to breaking the 60-year crisis jinx.
Adebayo said the importance of power to the economic growth and industrial development of any nation cannot be overemphasized, as no sector can actually perform optimally without a stable, effective, functional, and cost-effective power supply.
The minister stated this when he received the Senate Committee on Power led by its Chairman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, who visited the Ministry for it’s oversight function recently in Abuja.
“The steps we are taking in the Ministry of Power are in the right direction; it is only a matter of time before this crisis will be over,” the minister noted.
“We just need to endure and persevere, just as in the issue of road repairs and reconstructions, commuters suffer during such periods; some even sleep on the road due to road closures or diversions, but at the end, commuters enjoy smooth and timely rides to their destination when the work is done,” he added.
This is the case with power. The issues have been identified, and we need more patience and perseverance to get to our eldorado.
Sharing an overview of the general activities of the Ministry of Power, Adebayo identified liquidity, a huge metering gap, a high incidence of electricity theft, power equipment vandalism, funding and operational structure, and incessant grid collapse as challenges bedevilling the sector.
In offering sustainable solutions, a new tariff regime came on board and has drastically attracted the interest of investors in the sector, while distribution companies are devoted to investing more in upgrading their infrastructure to migrate more consumers to Band A, which now enjoys more than 20 hours of electricity supply.
He revealed further that another step taken by the Ministry was the granting of licenses to Renewable Energy Service Companies (RESCOS) to expand access in rural communities through the establishment of mini and micro grids.
He further added that the installation of solar PVs in rural areas will evidently reduce the weight on the national grid.
On closing the metering gap, Mr. President inaugurated the Presidential Metering Initiative Committee, of which I am the chairman, with a distinct directive to close the metering gap; hence, the vision is to metre at least two million customers a year for the next four years.
“We sincerely believe that by closing the metering gap, liquidity in the sector would also be enhanced, thereby eradicating estimated billings by distribution companies.”.
“The state governments have also been encouraged to key into the 2023 Electricity Act, which has recognised the advantaged position of the state in the provision of electricity across the country.
While appreciating the Senate Committee on Power for their steadfastness and devotion, Adelabu reiterated that “collaboration, corporation, and partnership are the name of the game, as we are committed to achieving the renewed hope agenda of Mr. President.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, stated that Sections 80 and 81 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria have enjoined the committee to have a look at what the different organs of the government are doing.
“So, we are here on the familiarization and oversight visit to the Ministry of Power“.
He noted that the committee, pursuant to the resolution of the National Assembly, has also invited the Hon. Minister and Heads of its Agencies to an investigative hearing on the recent electricity tariffs on April 29, 2024.
In his opening remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Alh. Mahmuda Mamman, attributed the visit to being very important as the power sector is presently undergoing some challenges that need the understanding of the Senate Committee on Power to deliver on its mandate.
