From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
The Federal Minister of Power Adebayo Adelabu says power generation in the country has hit 5,105 Mega Watts.
He said this is the highest level in three years and represents a 25% increase in generation in the country.
The Minister disclosed this at the 625 MW Calabar Power Generation Plant in Ikot Nyong, Odukpani, in Cross River State after a facility tour.
He said the government is not resting and is now targeting 6,000MW of power generation before the end of the year.
“We have witnessed an improved generation in the past few months and have hit 5,105 MW.
“This is the highest in the past three years from an average of 4,000 MW which this administration met and this represents about 25% increase in generation.
“We are not resting and presently hope to generate 6,000MW by the end of the year.
“Today, we have almost 14,000 installed capacity of both hydro and thermal and all we need to do is to stimulate demand so that the distribution companies can demand for more power”, he said.
He emphasized that the President Bola Tinubu administration is using power to drive up other sectors of the economy and the ministry must rise up to the occasion.
He also described the Calabar Power Generation Plant as the most active among the ten plants of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company and commended the management for the feat.
Also speaking, Chiedu Ugbo, the Managing Director of the NDPHC said the company is committed ensuring steady power supply in the country.
He added that to address the distribution challenge in its host state, and also evacuate power, a new line from Abakaliki to Ikom to Obudu is being constructed as well as a sub station for Ikom and Obudu.
Eka Wills, the state commissioner for power and renewable energy promised to partner with the Ministry and NDPHC to address the challenge of transmission in the state.