They would discuss issues concerning worsening electricity generation and distribution in their regions with a view to proffering a lasting solution.
By Jeffrey Agbo
The Federal Government, through the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has summoned the chief executives of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company over the worsening power supply in their regions.
The managing director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule Abdulazeez, was also summoned to the meeting.
The power sector is plagued by vandalism of transmission towers in some parts of the country, over $1 billion indebtedness to gas producers who provide gas required for running thermal gas-fired power plants, among others.
Worried by the development, Adelabu in a a letter signed by the Director, Distribution Services at the Federal Ministry of Power, B.U Mustapha, ordered the CEOs of the Discos and TCN to attend a meeting scheduled for next week.
They would discuss issues concerning worsening electricity generation and distribution in their regions with a view to proffering a lasting solution.
A statement on Saturday by the minister’s Special Adviser, Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Bolaji Tunji, quoted Adelabu as saying that the management of other non-performing discos would also be queried over non-performance as reports continue to filter in on situation in their regions.
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“These two discos have been summoned due to the worsening power supply situation in their regions despite improved supply from TCN,” the power minister stated.
According to the statement, gas shortage notwithstanding, the ministry had been putting pressure on the power generating companies to improve performance and generation had been ramped up to over 4,000 megawatts in recent days.
“So, we expect power supply to have improved across the country, unlike what we are experiencing in some regions, presently.
“Findings revealed that some distribution companies were deliberately not taking up power supply from TCN while some power lines were also damaged by vandals in Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt and Ibadan regions,” Adelabu stated.
Going forward, the minister said focus would be on all the discos to compel them to expected performance while, “wilful non- performance by any disco could suffice as a reason for severe punishment or outright license revocation.”
The minister also directed TCN to immediately commence repair works on the damaged transmission towers and power lines in order to improve supply in the affected regions.