He said the feats were achieved with the support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as part of his renewed hope agenda to galvanise the economy.

Reviewing the activities of the Ministry of Power in the last one year on the eve of the October 1 independence celebration, the minister also revealed that more than 40 per cent of Nigerian electricity consumers were already enjoying over 20 hours of regular and stable electricity across the nation.

He said that was due to the radical and bold steps that were taken.

According to him, the president had consistently advocated that Nigeria could be great and achieve breakthrough in industrialization, through a stable and consistent power supply.

He said one of the major and significant achievements of his ministry within the last one year was that “Today, we are generating over 5,500 megawatts of power.”

He said the ministry was working to improve on the record, by the end of the year, as power supply constituted one of the campaign promises of President Tinubu.

Adelabu emphasized the need for Nigerians to know that stable electricity in any economy could not be overemphasized and for most developed nations, the first thing they got right was to achieve reliable, functional, and affordable electricity, especially for their industries, businesses, institutions, and households.

“This is why you see great economies like Korea, China, Europe, and North America industrialized today. Their stability in electricity supply has been instrumental to their economic growth and industrial development.

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“That’s why we say that we must achieve this for Nigeria as a country. We need to achieve the requisite economic growth and industrial development. Our dear president, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, included this in the Renewed Hope Agenda as a major electoral policy to Nigerians. In his New Year speech on the 1st of January, 2024, he emphasized the need for the country to have stable, functional, and reliable electricity to drive other critical sectors. This is the only way we can achieve the required economic growth and industrial development. In fact, none of the critical sectors can function optimally without electricity stability and functionality.

“Therefore, our vision is to ensure that we provide households, businesses, and institutions (educational and health institutions as well as industries) with stable electricity supply. This will enable them to power their activities, improve their capacity, and create more jobs.

“In a country like South Korea, industrial giants like Samsung, Hyundai, and LG didn’t just become global giants overnight. They were supported by the government through the provision of stable and reliable electricity for their operations. This is the vision we have for Nigeria. At the end of the day, a large proportion of our population will be electrified, industries will enjoy stable electricity, and this will increase production and create employment for our people”, the minister said.

The minister added that the mandate of the ministry was to engender national development through the formulation of appropriate policies, the establishment of proper structures and institutions to ensure or achieve stable, functional, reliable, and affordable electricity supply to households, businesses, institutions, and industries.

“This will enable us to achieve the desired economic growth and industrial development. We also provide general oversight to ensure the overall well-being of the Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI). This is the mandate of the Ministry.

“However, we are not doing this alone. We work in conjunction with our agencies. These include: Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC); Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN); Rural Electrification Agency (REA); Nigerian Electricity Management Service Agency (NEMSA); Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET); National Power Training Institute (NAPTIN); and Nigerian Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO).

“These are agencies under the Ministry of Power which are like our foot soldiers.

“Apart from the agencies under the Ministry of Power, we also operate through 27 power generating companies, including hydroelectric power companies and thermal companies (which are gas-powered generating companies). We also have 11 Electricity Distribution Companies across the country that operates.

“In generation, we rely on the generating companies. In transmission, we rely on the government-owned Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), which is a direct agency under the Ministry of Power.

“In distribution, we rely on the 11 distribution companies that we have across the country.

“We also work in conjunction with some international development agencies like the World Bank, the African Development Bank, GIZ, USAID, and so on. These are multilateral institutions that support the Ministry of Power”, Adelabu said.

He continued: “This administration was inaugurated on May 29, 2023. However, ministers were appointed on August 21, 2023. We are just a bit over a year old in office.

“Upon resumption, we had an installed generation capacity of 13,000 megawatts, but we were only producing, transmitting, and distributing about 4,000 megawatts of power to the entire country.

“This was quite low and unacceptable given our population and level of economic activities. Therefore, we were determined to improve the situation.

“At that time, there was epileptic supply. Almost all customers, both residential and commercial, could not be guaranteed 12-15 hours of supply. Additionally, the adoption of renewable energy was skeletal in terms of solar or wind sources of energy.

“Between then and now, which is about a year, there has been significant improvement. Today, our installed capacity is over 14,000 megawatts of power due to the addition of the newly commissioned Zungeru hydroelectric power plant and improved capacity of some of the existing power plants.

“Moreover, the major achievement is the fact that today we generate over 5,500 megawatts of power, we transmit and distribute it, and over 40% of customers today enjoy over 20 hours of regular power supply across the nation. You can see that there is a significant improvement between when we came in and now, which we intend to improve further,” he said.

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The struggle, the group said, should also demand a reversal of the tariff hike, a reversal of privatization of the power sector, massive public investment and democratic control by workers and consumers.

The group made the call in a statement signed by its national coordinator, Comrade Chinedu Bosah, and made available to FrontPage.

The group said the imposition of the hike in electricity tariff for Band A consumers by a whopping 230% – from N68 Kwh to N225 Kwh was provocative.

The group said the hike in the tariff would have a devastating effect on the generality of Nigerians contrary to the explanation by the government that it was exclusively for the rich.

Said the group: “According to NERC, this tariff hike affects about 15% of the total consumers and is targeted at the so-called rich people. The reality is that there is hardly any community which is exclusively for the rich. These communities have many workers, pensioners and urban poor people who are residents or shop owners and will be affected adversely. Besides, this tariff which affects many big companies will translate into higher cost of production or business and be passed on to workers and the poor as higher prices of goods and services. As a result, the current cost of living crises will be further aggravated, potentially throwing more working people into poverty. Therefore, the new tariff should be rejected by working people and youth. Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity (CARE) condemns this hike and demand reversal.

“Electricity for industries and many businesses in Nigeria reportedly constitute 40% or more of the total cost compared to 10% in China. This huge cost is one major reason many companies closed down and relocated abroad contributing to a high unemployment rate. Hence, it is not true that the outrageous tariff hike for Band A will exclusively affect the rich and middle class, it will also affect workers and the poor. This anti-poor Tinubu-led government is all out to protect the profit and greed of a few while it cares less about Nigerian workers and the poor.”

The group said the agenda was also to create an apartheid-styled electricity distribution system entrenched in massive exploitation.

It said that meant that communities dominated by the middle class and the rich would get 20 hours or more electricity daily while communities dominated by workers and the poor get little or no electricity daily.

“In this type of unfair, discriminative electricity supply, Band A which constitutes about 15% may get about 50% or more of the electricity supply while 85% of the other consumers may get less than 50% of the electricity supplied.”

It added: “The power sector was built and funded by Nigerian taxpayers which include Nigerian workers and the poor but it is a case of robbing Peter (workers/poor) to pay Paul (the rich). Every Nigerian deserves equal, affordable and uninterrupted power supply irrespective of social status. The government can tax the rich progressively more than the workers but social amenities like education, healthcare, electricity etc., must be distributed equally to all.”

The group advised that “Given the obvious failure of privatization, there is an urgent need to re-nationalise the power sector, bring it under public ownership and be subjected to democratic control and management of the working masses with the view to ushering in massive public investment that will drive the cost of electricity down and making it affordable in the long run for most Nigerian consumers while electricity consumed by the poorest is subsidized.

“Coalition for Affordable and Regular Electricity (CARE) calls on the trade union leadership and leaders of pro-masses organisations to mobilise workers and community people for a struggle to resist both the current and planned electricity tariff hike. The struggle should also demand a reversal of the tariff hike, a reversal of privatization of the power sector, massive public investment and democratic control by workers and consumers.”

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Mrs Olubunmi Odesanya, Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the party, made the call on Saturday in Lagos.

She described the “astronomical” increase  in tariff as unreasonable, saying it would not only hurt electricity consumers, but also the economy .

Odesanya said Nigerians were already facing hardship following the removal of fuel subsidy, adding that the  tariff hike would increase sufferings.

The party’s spokesperson added that if the government had reason to hike tariff at all, the increase should not be more than 25 per cent.

“On a daily basis, Nigerians are bearing the brunt. This is simply not working. A good number of Nigerians are suffering.

“Nigerians are currently facing hardship. The government should know that people are at the heart of every government.

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“This astronomical increase in electricity tariff should be reconsidered,” Odesanya said.

She urged government to reduce cost of governance in order to save funds, rather than removing subsidies.

According to her, government must be determined in its fight against corruption and reduce poverty.

Odesanya also urged the government to increase the minimum wage for workers as that would help them to cope with rising cost of living.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, had on April 3 announced an increase in electricity tariff for customers enjoying 20-hour power supply daily.

The increase means customers classified as  Band A electricity consumers would now pay N225 per kilowatt hour as opposed to the N66 payable before the hike.

Source: NAN

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The National President of ASCSN, Mr Etim Okon, made this known while reacting to the new increase in tariff with newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

Recall that the federal government on April 3, announced the new increase in electricity tariff.

Okon described the new policy as a “misplacement of priority, anti-people policy and unacceptable.”

According to him, the hike in the electricity tariff from N66/kwh to N225/kwh for those who enjoy electricity supply for 20 hours per day is totally unacceptable and a recipe for unrest.

“This shows clearly that Nigeria is not ready for 24 hours electricity supply.

“I think that the policy is not right especially at this time of socio-economic challenges where the cost of living is very exorbitant and the salary of the workers remained static.

“Today, we are still battling with the fuel subsidy removal without any corresponding remedy and yet the increase in the electricity tariff without even the supply of electricity,” he said.

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He said the federal government was prioritising revenue generation over the welfare of Nigerians who are currently struggling to survive.

He noted that government, in the announcement, had said that the planned hike in electricity tariff would ensure at least 20 hours of power supply.

Okon, therefore, advised government to find ways of stabilising the economy before thinking of how to generate more revenue through taxation.

He urged the government to reconsider its stance and reverse to the old tariff.

“If the labour union calls for protest, government will say we are being insensitive but without consultation they just woke up and announced increase in price of electricity.

“No worker now can boast of anything with N30,000 minimum wage.

“The calculation on ground and the high cost of living have already consumed everything before they even make the announcement so where are we going from here.

“Government must reverse to the former tariff and allow the economy to have some level of stability,” he said.

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Band A are those customers who enjoy electricity supply for 20 hours per day.

The vice chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Mr Musliu Oseni, made this known at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

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Oseni said the band A customers represent 15 per cent of the 12 million electricity customers across the country.

He said the commission had also downgraded some customers on B and A to B and C.

Oseni said that that was due to non-fulfillment of the required hours of electricity provided by the Electricity Distribution Companies, DisCos.

Source: NAN

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The directive was made known on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga.

The president’s directive followed the reconciliation of accounts between the State House Management and AEDC.

Contrary to the AEDC’s initial claim of N923 million debt in paid advertorial in newspapers, the State House outstanding bill is N342, 352, 217.46, according to a letter by the management of AEDC to the State House Permanent Secretary dated February 14, 2024.

Having reconciled the position to the satisfaction of both parties, the Chief of Staff to the President, Rt Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, was said to have given assurance that the debt would be paid to AEDC before the end of this week.

Following the example of the Presidency, Chief of Staff also urged other MDAs to reconcile their accounts with AEDC and pay their electricity bills.

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Mrs Ndidi Mbah, TCN’s General Manager, Public Affairs, in a statement in Abuja on Sunday said that the company initiated immediate restoration of the affected part of the grid.

“The Transmission Company of Nigeria, hereby states that the grid experienced a partial disturbance at about 11:21hrs with Ibom power islanded feeding Eket, Ekim, Itu and Uyo transmission substations, during the period of partial disturbance,” she said.

Mbah said that prior to the incident, total generation on the grid was 3,901.25 Mega Watts (MW) at 8 a. m, a little over three hours before time of partial collapse.

According to her, it was important to note that low power generation had persisted since January to date, exacerbating daily due to the lingering gas constraint.

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According to the National Control Centre, NCC, the Internet of Things, IoT, revealed that just before the partial disturbance which occurred at Sapele, Steam and Egbin Substations lost 29.32MW and 343.84MW at 11:20:14 hrs and 11:20:17hrs respectively, totalling 373.16MW.

“This, combined with the current low power generation due to gas constraints, caused the imbalance leading to the partial system disturbance.

“Gas constraints continue to impact grid flexibility and stability. Ensuring sufficient gas supply to power generating stations is crucial for grid stability,” she said.

Mbah said that sufficient generation allowed for better grid management in the event of sudden generation losses.

She said that TCN would investigate the cause of tripping of Sapele Steam and Egbin power generating units.

Source: NAN

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According to the NBS Nigeria Electricity Report for Q1 2023 released in Abuja on Wednesday, the figure showed an increase of 1.89 per cent.

The report focuses on energy billed, revenue generated, and customers by DISCOS under the reviewed period.

The report said on a year-on-year basis, customer numbers in Q1 2023 increased by 5.99 per cent from 10.63 million reported in Q1 2022 to 11.27 million in Q1 2023.

It said in Q1 2023, the number of metered customers stood at 5.31 million from the 5.13 million recorded in Q4 2022, this indicated a 3.61 per cent increase.

“On a year-on-year basis, this grew by 5.71 per cent from the figure reported in Q1 2022 at 4.79 million.”

Similarly, the report said that estimated customers stood at 5.96 million in Q1 2023; this was higher by 0.40 per cent from the 5.93 million recorded in Q4 2022.

On a year-on-year basis, estimated customers increased by 1.99 per cent in Q1 2023 from 5.84 million recorded in Q1 2022.

The NBS said revenue collected by the DISCOs in Q1 2023 was N247.33 billion compared to the N232.32 billion collected in Q4 2022.

The report said on a year-on-year basis, revenue generated rose by 20.81 per cent from N204.74 billion recorded in Q1 2022.

It said electricity supply increased to 5,852 (Gwh) in Q1 2023 from 5,611 (Gwh) recorded in Q4 2022.

However, the report said on a year-on-year basis, electricity supply declined by 1.74 per cent compared to 5,956 (Gwh) reported in Q1 2022.

Source: NAN

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The governor, on Wednesday, launched the state’s electricity policy at an energy stakeholders’ event organised by the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island.

The framework forms one of the technical components of the proposed Lagos State Electricity Law currently being developed to drive interventions towards improving access to electricity.

Partnership with private players in the power sector is the main thrust of the policy, which requires sustained capital investment in raising the capacity of the existing power infrastructure, while also generating from off-grid network.

Sanwo-Olu said the electricity policy unveiled articulated constitutional, legal, engineering and commercial foundations for creating a viable sub-national electricity system that would cater for energy needs of the state, while enabling socio-economic growth for Lagos and the nation.

The governor said the state moved to explore alternative energy supply channels in response to growing demand occasioned by population growth and emergence of new residential and industrial areas.

Energy requirement that will keep Lagos economy on the path of growth, Sanwo-Olu noted, had far exceeded the current 1,000 megawatts being supplied from the national grid, necessitating the move to explore alternative sources.

He said: “Given Lagos State’s status as the commercial nerve-center and economic hub of Nigeria, it is our firm belief that the attainment of universal electricity access in the state would accelerate the same across other parts of the country. Increased electricity access is one of the priority mandates of this administration, given its significance in driving sustainable economic development.

“There will be no economic development without sustainable energy. The economy needs energy to run and our objective as a government is to deliver sustainable, reliable and affordable electricity to all Lagosians. The electricity policy being unveiled today does not only articulate the problems in the sector, it is also futuristic in the implementation of its provisions.”

Sanwo-Olu said the state would ramp up procurement of pre-paid meters for distribution to residents as part of the implementation of the electricity policy.

That, he said, would promote transparency in the supply chain, while curbing electricity theft and discouraging estimated billing from the suppliers.

The governor stressed that the set objectives of the electricity policy would only be realisable if the private partners showed equal commitment as the government to boost capacity in off-grid generation and distribution network.

“As a Government, we believe one person cannot do it all. We need ideas and knowledge from each other, and form real partnership for coordination in the implementation of this framework,” Sanwo-Olu said.

Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Lere Odusote, said the electricity policy, apart from clearing out constitutional and legal framework for investors’ assurance, also provided for the establishment of an autonomous regulatory body and independent system operator.

Odusote said Lagos government would hinge its partnership with the industry players on well-funded and well-managed generation, transmission and distribution.

The state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyo Onigbanjo, SAN, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Titilayo Shitta-Bey, said the framework was the first step to bringing Lagos out from constitutional obstruction that restricted the state from exploring electricity supply options.

The tone for the government’s partnership with the private energy investors was set by a panel of discussion moderated by Soji Awogbade, an energy lawyer and founding partner of Aelex.

The panelists included chairman of Ikeja Electric Plc and Egbon Power Plc, Mr. Kola Adeshina; co-founder of Falcon Corporation, Mrs. Audrey Joe-Ezigbo; Chief Executive Officer, Infrastructure Credit Guarantee Company Limited, Mr. Chinua Azubuike; Deputy Chief of Party, Power Africa, Mr. Tunde Gbajumo and Dr. Dolapo Fasawe, General Manager, Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA).

The stakeholders praised the Lagos government for its commitment to boost power supply through the electricity framework; they argued that the implementation must focus more on supply for industrial consumption and productive activities rather than residential for sustainability of the plan.

Stakeholders also urged the government to explore the options of clean and renewable energy infrastructure in order not to worsen environmental challenges facing the state.

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The Chief Operating Officer of the distribution company,  Engr. John Ayodele, in a statement made available to journalists in Ibadan, wished all its customers and Nigerians a safe and enjoyable holiday season, stating that measures had been put in place to ensure network stability and smooth operation.

His words: “In anticipation of customers’ expectations during the holidays, we are fully equipped to ensure faults are cleared as fast as possible across our franchise to avoid unnecessary disruption of power supply.”

Ayodele also urged customers and all Nigerians to demonstrate the virtues of love, compassion and peace which are the cardinal pillars of epitomized by Christmas.

He said although 2020 had been a year plagued by many challenges, IBEDC still demonstrated its commitment to excellent service delivery by creating more Customer Care Units across its franchise for quicker resolutions of complaints and faults, upgraded and installed some major electrical infrastructure.

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