L
LequteMan
Guest
The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Power, Dr Godknows Igali, said on Tuesday that there had been substantial increase in power generation following the privatisation of the nation’s power sector.
He said the companies were bringing in new equipment to consolidate on the stabilisation of electricity supply nationwide.
“You know these things are not being felt overnight; they install them; they take months, but Egbin has finished; we can now see the impact of the privatisation.
“The plants have almost doubled the amount of power available; that is why we moved from about 2,000 to almost 4,500. We are gradually going to almost 5,000 megawatts by the grace of God,’’ he said.
Igali said the activities of vandals remained a major challenge to the efforts to thoroughly reform the power sector.
“Each time we hit 4,000 megawatts, the vandals will go and hit the gas pipelines; we don’t know why they are doing it.”
He said that the government was putting in place necessary security measures in place to check the activities of vandals.
“Government is using electronic means. Government is mobilising security people - the army, navy, Security and Civil Defence Corps and the police.
“Intelligence people are working; the security people, there are electronic means to track this thing. We are engaging the communities to be watchful; all these things are being done,’’ he said.
Igali allayed the fear that the privatisation of the power sector would lead to an immediate increase in the tariff paid by consumers.
“Tariff increase is not in the contemplation right now. Our first mandate is to stabilise power supply in the country. We want Nigerians to see the dividends of this privatisation,” he said.
#Nigeria
He said the companies were bringing in new equipment to consolidate on the stabilisation of electricity supply nationwide.
“You know these things are not being felt overnight; they install them; they take months, but Egbin has finished; we can now see the impact of the privatisation.
“The plants have almost doubled the amount of power available; that is why we moved from about 2,000 to almost 4,500. We are gradually going to almost 5,000 megawatts by the grace of God,’’ he said.
Igali said the activities of vandals remained a major challenge to the efforts to thoroughly reform the power sector.
“Each time we hit 4,000 megawatts, the vandals will go and hit the gas pipelines; we don’t know why they are doing it.”
He said that the government was putting in place necessary security measures in place to check the activities of vandals.
“Government is using electronic means. Government is mobilising security people - the army, navy, Security and Civil Defence Corps and the police.
“Intelligence people are working; the security people, there are electronic means to track this thing. We are engaging the communities to be watchful; all these things are being done,’’ he said.
Igali allayed the fear that the privatisation of the power sector would lead to an immediate increase in the tariff paid by consumers.
“Tariff increase is not in the contemplation right now. Our first mandate is to stabilise power supply in the country. We want Nigerians to see the dividends of this privatisation,” he said.
#Nigeria
