The Federal Government on Friday
apologised to Nigerians for the poor power situation the country has
been witnessing in the past few weeks.
apologised to Nigerians for the poor power situation the country has
been witnessing in the past few weeks.
In a statement signed by the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji
Lai Mohammed, the situation was blamed on gas shortage, vandalism and
sabotage.
Lai Mohammed, the situation was blamed on gas shortage, vandalism and
sabotage.
He also said all efforts were being made to rectify the situation and ensure a gradual improvement in the power situation.
The minister said the routine
maintenance by the Nigeria Gas Company had affected the supply of gas to
power stations, forcing down power supply from an all-time high of
5,074 MW to about 4,000MW.
maintenance by the Nigeria Gas Company had affected the supply of gas to
power stations, forcing down power supply from an all-time high of
5,074 MW to about 4,000MW.
He added that a combination of unsavoury incidents further crashed the power supply to about half that figure.
Mohammed said, “There will be a decent
improvement in the power situation from this weekend, thanks to on-going
remedial efforts that will double the current power supply to 4,000WM.
Getting back to the 5,074MW all-time high that was reached earlier will
take a few more weeks.
improvement in the power situation from this weekend, thanks to on-going
remedial efforts that will double the current power supply to 4,000WM.
Getting back to the 5,074MW all-time high that was reached earlier will
take a few more weeks.
‘’The vandalism of the Forcados export
pipelines forced oil companies to shut down, making it impossible for
them to produce gas. Then, workers at the Ikeja Discos, who were
protesting the disengagement of some of their colleagues after they
failed the company’s competency test, apparently colluded with the
National Transmission Station in Osogbo to shut down transmission.
pipelines forced oil companies to shut down, making it impossible for
them to produce gas. Then, workers at the Ikeja Discos, who were
protesting the disengagement of some of their colleagues after they
failed the company’s competency test, apparently colluded with the
National Transmission Station in Osogbo to shut down transmission.
‘’Finally, the unfortunate strike by the
unions at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation over the
restructuring of the corporation, shut down the Itarogun Power Station,
the biggest in the country.
unions at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation over the
restructuring of the corporation, shut down the Itarogun Power Station,
the biggest in the country.
“Due to these factors, only 13 of the 24
power stations in the country are currently functioning. It is this
same kind of unsavoury situation that has affected fuel supply and
subjected Nigerians to untold hardship.”
power stations in the country are currently functioning. It is this
same kind of unsavoury situation that has affected fuel supply and
subjected Nigerians to untold hardship.”
The minister condemned the situation in
which some Nigerians, under the guise of the various unions in the oil
and gas sector, would continuously sabotage the country’s power
infrastructure.
which some Nigerians, under the guise of the various unions in the oil
and gas sector, would continuously sabotage the country’s power
infrastructure.
He said, ‘’The bitter truth is that for
as long as these groups of Nigerians continue to sabotage the power
infrastructure, Nigerians cannot enjoy a decent level of power supply.
as long as these groups of Nigerians continue to sabotage the power
infrastructure, Nigerians cannot enjoy a decent level of power supply.
“We therefore admonish all Nigerians who
may be agitating for their rights in whatever form to refrain from any
action that will further hurt the same people they claim to be
protecting.”
may be agitating for their rights in whatever form to refrain from any
action that will further hurt the same people they claim to be
protecting.”