Nigeria’s power generation rose to a three-year high of 5,313 megawatts on Monday, the Federal Ministry of Power has declared.
It declared this in a statement issued by the media aide to the power minister, Bolaji Tunji, adding that electricity distributors should ensure the distribution of the generated energy.
“The national grid on Monday hit a record high of 5,313MW, a record high in the last three years,” the statement disclosed.
Reacting to this, the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, called on power distribution companies to take more energy to prevent grid collapse as the grid’s frequency drops when power is produced and not picked by the Discos.
He added that efforts would be made to encourage industries to purchase bulk energy.
However, a top official of one of the Discos was quoted as saying that the power companies were finding it difficult to pick the extra energy produced by generation companies because they were not happy with the tariff on other bands apart from Band A.
“As it is now, we are operating at a loss. Yes, they supply more power but this problem could be solved with improved tariff for the other bands and more meter penetration to recover the cost,” the Disco official, who pleaded not to be named due to lack of authorisation to speak on the matter, said.
On Saturday, the ministry said power generation that peaked at 5,170MW was ramped down by 1,400MW due to Discos’ energy rejection.
Meanwhile, the Tuesday statement from the power ministry stated that the Federal Government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with a Chinese Company, Mutual Commitment Company Limited to assemble electric tricycles and establish a renewable energy training centre.
The MoU g ceremony, facilitated by the Rural Electrification Agency, was attended by Adelabu and the Managing Director of REA, Mr Abba Aliyu.
The event took place in Beijing on the eve of the opening ceremony of the African-China Co-operation Summit.
Adelabu said the MoU event is important and will be a memorable day for Nigeria.
He congratulated the REA and the National Power Training Institute of Nigeria for the event, saying it will aid in achieving Nigeria’s vision for the renewable energy sub-sector of the entire electricity sector value chain.
Adelabu added, “I know Nigeria and China have a lot of things in common, one of which is the fact that Nigeria and China are both high-population countries and with a country with a high population, you have so much pressure.
“The first pressure is that of energy access and the second is job creation. So when you take steps to achieve both, it is a thing of joy. I am particularly happy that this is happening during the tenure of President Bola Tinubu, as it is in line with achieving the Renewed Hope Agenda of the istration for the country.”
The minister said Tinubu has prioritised the power sector as the driver for all other critical sectors of the economy.
“We have relied so much on centralisation of our power sector for so long that it is not taking us anywhere,” he stated.
Adelabu revealed that almost 40 per cent of Nigeria’s population lacks access to energy with its attendant consequences.
“So, moving away from centralisation, we have decided to adopt the distributed power model to ensure that every Nigerian has access to energy. A lot of our population resides in rural areas, a lot of our educational and tertiary health institutions are isolated and they are still facing epileptic power supply.
“We have also found out that the adoption of the distributed energy model will expand the energy net for our rural dwellers, the rural businesses, our universities, and tertiary health institutions; which is why the focus is on renewable energy which we believe is scalable and can exist in isolation of national grid that is currently facing lots of pressure,” he explained.
He noted that as Nigeria continues to expand energy access, the country also wants to transition to cleaner sources of energy that are sustainable and environment-friendly.
He said the MoU would achieve the vision for the renewable energy sub-segment of the power sector.
“We will be able to produce jobs for our large youthful population that is growing every day. Our polytechnics, technical colleges, and universities are turning up graduates yearly without assurance of job placement. This will go a long way to make it happen, at the same time, we will be able to achieve our energy access expansion”
He noted northern African countries such as Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt and Algeria have achieved 100 per cent electrification of their countries and in South Africa, about 95 per cent.
“Unfortunately, Nigeria is still at 62 per cent, though there are still some African countries with worse levels of achievements, but this is not where we belong. If these countries can achieve this, why is it not possible for Nigeria with the level of our natuSeeSeeral endowment? We have the gas, the dams are also there for the hydropower electric. The wind, both desert and coastal, is there while sunshine is also effective. So, what are we waiting for?
“A step like today’s will enable us to move up on our level of electrification. This will consequently lead to growth in our Gross Domestic Product because of the economic activities that would be created. This will also save us foreign exchange expenditure on importation and create jobs for our people, if we assemble these things locally,” he said.
Earlier, the REA boss said the ceremony was capable of delivering on the presidential mandate of building local capacity and creating more job opportunities.
“We will track this and ensure the delivery of the commitment within the tenure of the present istration. We will also track the economic factor that this initiative will drive, the level of GDP contribution, the employment opportunities provided, and the socio-economic activities that will crystallise,” Aliyu remarked.
He said the MCC is presently engaged in Nigeria with the construction of 12MW and 3MW power plants in Maiduguri and Kaduna, respectively.
The Vice Chairman of MCC, Yan Zhezhu, who spoke through an interpreter, expressed appreciation for the power minister’s commitment to Nigeria’s energy growth.
“We are not new to Nigeria, having started in Oyo State a long time ago. Presently, we have ongoing projects in Maiduguri and Kaduna and we appreciate the cooperation we have so far received. Our projects have seen us working with states and the Federal Government in Nigeria and we are committed to do more,” Zhezhu promised.
COMRADES, nonsense talk and propaganda, the power generation has increased because we're still in rainy season, why it has been too epileptic from January to July?
Is this the uninterrupted and stable electricity that we have had since 2015
OduntanGabriel:
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos on Friday said the only way Nigerians can get uninterrupted power supply in the country is by voting out PDP in the 2015 general elections.
Fashola said this at an event in Ikeja to mark his istration’s 2600 days in office.
He said,” Yes, it is possible to generate electricity and to make sure that everybody in this country has electricity , I agree with you it is simple what we have done in Lagos within the areas where we are constrained showed that it can be done . But you know what the only way that you and I will have electricity in this country will be to vote out the PDP.”
“In 16 years hundreds of billions of naira, trillions of naira have been spent and we cannot switch on electricity and in seven years we have created four plants , it showed that something is missing. So unless you vote for All Progressive Congress, an inefficient government, it is going to be difficult to have electricity.
“They started from vision 2020-20 and I told you then that they were having nightmare that there was no vision.
They moved to seven point agenda and now they are transforming.
Ikaeniyan0:
It's high time the FG start sanctioning the DISCOS for rejecting power
Or better still remove the monopoly by giving Licence to other distribution companies, thereby removing the monopoly of few DISCOs, it becomes a competitive business
Because the power is from his Enron barge scam? Or because of wetin
Judge hands out prison time in Enron barge scam
Ex-Enron, Merrill execs sentenced. A repentant Boyle gets nearly four years for his involvement in barge scandal
May 13, 2005
Former Enron executive Dan Boyle was sentenced to nearly four years in prison Thursday, while Robert Furst and William Fuhs, both former Merrill Lynch bankers, received more than three years — all for their roles in the Enron Nigerian barge scam.
Boyle, sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison and fined $320,000, was the only one who appeared repentant about pushing through a sham sale of energy-generating barges to the bank so Enron could pump its earnings and bolster its stock price.
"I'm the only one responsible for my actions and omissions and for the pain I caused each and every person I affected," the Clear Lake resident told the judge. "I'm truly sorry."
Melagros:
COMRADES, nonsense talk and propaganda, the power generation has increased because we're still in rain season, why it has been too epileptic from January to July?
What has rainy season got to do with power generation…or do you still think it’s kanji dam that’s still powering the nation..think again!!
Just 1 page since morning?? It is obvious we have a lot of bad bele in Naija. Thank you so much Minister Adelabu and please do not relent with this transformation. We are getting to live the Nigeria of our dreams. God bless BAT
Melagros:
COMRADES, nonsense talk and propaganda, the power generation has increased because we're still in rainy season, why it has been too epileptic from January to July?
You don't even know that the bulk of the power generation comes from gas. So many ignorant fellas here.
F117nighthawk:
I dey laugh in Russian language,and we no dey see the effect in our homes?who are these people fooling?
Except we want to lie to ourselves. The power supply has improved. The Band classifications are getting what they paid for. I am not really into this band classification as all Nigerians should be considered as the same. I also understand that we are not generating enough to go round at once hence the bands.
If past and present government are really serious with this power thing, we will have achieved 24hrs daily power long time ago.
Wasn't it Fashola that said a serious government will fix power in 6 months or so? Look where we are.
Also rural electrification should be taken seriously. You will enter these areas to canvas for votes but won't be able to provide basics for them afterwards.
