•Grid collapse, destroying economy, reducing productivity- Manufacturers
By Adewale Sanyaolu, Isaac Anumihe (Abuja) and Merit Ibe
Manufacturers and business operators in Nigeria, yesterday berated the incessant collapse of the nation’s power grid, saying it is gradually destroying the economy and reruining productivity.
The collapse which according to the manufacturers came barely one week after the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), celebrated a questionable 400 days of uninterrupted grid stability threw the entire country into peach darkness with millions of busineses and households without power supply was decribed as one incident too many for an economy on the throes death.
This was even as the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, Thursday, in a series of posts on X, said the fire led to about 356.63MW generation loss.
“At 00:35Hrs this morning, Fire outbreak with explosion sound was observed on Kainji/Jebba 330kV line 2 (Cct K2J) blue phase CVT & Blue phase line Isolator of Kainji/Jebba 330kV line1 was observed burning. This led to sharp drops in frequency from 50.29Hz to 49.67 Hz at 0:35:06Hrs
But commenting, on the impact of the frequent system collapse on manufacturers, immediate past chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Apapa branch, Frank Onyebu, said he finds it difficult to understand why the country should be experiencing the embarrassing grid failures all the time.
“It’s something I can’t understand. I think we have passed this stage. Industries are paying their bills despite inefficiencies in the system of the DisCos. We still pay whatever bills we are given. So, I see no reason we should be suffering this. It’s very frustrating. This epileptic power supply is forcing a lot of manufacturers out of the country, while some are closing shop.
“Whatever needs to be fixed should be done on time. The association is losing people and industries we can rely on to grow the economy.
“As an industrialist, it’s painful we have been talking about supplying power not just for industrialists but for the entire nation. I think we should be getting better and moving forward but it looks like we are moving backwards. “The grid lines are obsolete. With the kind of money the country has spent on electricity generation and transmission, we should be having top notch power generation lines now. Unfortunately the lines are not up to what they should be. We just want power. I don’t know how we can continue this way.
Also reacting, Chairman, Abia/Imo states, MAN, Dr Jude Eluma, noted that the collapse was destroying the economy and reducing productivity, which is almost zero.
“Its consequence is inestimable. The endless power crisis rocking the nation and the series of complete collapse of the national grid, have brought consequential socio-economic hardship to the people, hitting manufacturers even harder and speedily facilitating lock up of the gate of manufacturing in Nigeria.” Before the collapse, manufacturers have been witnessing high cost of diesel and petrol, when available, which has led some manufacturers to shut down.”
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