From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja
Minister of Power Chief Adebayo Adekola Adelabu has said that to tackle the electricity challenge facing the nation, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) will require about N2.779 trillion to execute its 149 projects that are scattered across the country, many of them at different stages of completion.
Adelabu made the disclosure when he appeared before the National Assembly in Abuja.
He informed the lawmakers that approval has been given for the commencement of the second phase of the Siemens power project under the Presidential Power Initiative, with 95 per cent completion of the pilot stage in 2024.
According to him, the project will energise power supply as it would involve the construction of five substations across the nation and permanently address the issue of grid collapse.
“I am happy to appear before you today to address you on what we have been able to achieve last year and what is expected of us as a ministry this year.
“For the TCN alone, we will need about N2.779 trillion to enable us to execute about 149 projects we are currently engaged in all over the country. Our total budget as a ministry is not even up to this, but as the saying goes, half a loaf is better than none. I’m telling you so that you can be aware of the kind of money that is needed in the ministry for us to address our electricity challenges. We need your co-operation and collaboration in achieving the mandate of Mr. President in electricity supply to Nigerians,” the minister said.
On the Siemens project, Adelabu said that the substations to be built across the country would address the nation’s fragile power infrastructure, occasioned by obsolete and outdated equipment.
“The Federal Government is fully determined to address these challenges and issues that have been blocking our progress in our effort to provide electricity to Nigerians and our consumers. Of particular note is the grid collapse, which has to do with the obsolete and outdated equipment around our power stations. To practically address this, the Siemens project will come on board in the first quarter of this year. We have almost concluded the take-off of the project and it will involve building five substations across the country. This will energise our supply so that the issue of grid collapse will be a thing of the past. By next week, we will begin the contracts for the substations to come on board,” Adelabu said.
In a statement, he also informed the lawmakers of the need to address the issue of vandalism as it concerns electricity assets across the country.
“One other critical thing I want to draw your attention to is the issue of vandalism as it concerns our assets. It is important we sensitise our people against this act. We must be involved in serious advocacy on this issue. We must jointly address the issue of protecting the power assets. A damage to one is a damage to all, especially the transmission assets; they are so interwoven, and a damage to one is a damage to all.
“In this case, we need the co-operation and collaboration of all our security agencies—the army, the airforce, the navy, the police and the civil defence. But more importantly, we need the co-operation and collaboration of the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA). We are not just dealing with those who steal cables but bandits who use dynamite to blow up towers and transmission lines. There is no amount we can vote for this, either as a ministry or in TCN, that can solve this. Our transmission line from Shiroro – Mando – Kaduna, which was attacked by these bandits and which we are yet to put back, was done in a manner as if we were in a war situation. We did not budget for what was spent to put what we could together. How do we manage the protection of these assets? This must be our joint concern. So, we are calling for your co-operation and collaboration in addressing this security challenge facing us in our power assets.
“I want to assure you that on our part, the Federal Government is fully ready to address the issues hindering the electricity sector this year, 2025, and we hope the year will be a better one for us in the ministry. As I said before, I want to reiterate that we will focus on this Presidential Power Initiative in ensuring that our grid is stable and does not suffer collapse, and when it does, within the very shortest time, it is restored and brought back on board,” he said.
The minister also disclosed that the ministry will be working with local contractors in their procurement plans for the year.
“I also want to let you know that we are encouraging our local contractors in providing our materials such as cables, poles and so on. This will help us to conserve our foreign exchange and reduce the transaction cycles we often face while we import. This will save us time in our procurement this year,” he said.
Earlier, the lawmakers had commended the Power Minister over improved electricity supply, while asking for further improvement in the sector.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on Power, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said that there has been improvement in supply, adding that he knew more was needed to be done in order to take Nigeria where it ought to be. He was supported by Senator Ashiru Oyetola, representing Osun State, who said the first appearance of the minister before the Senate Committee clearly showed his understanding of the task before him.
“The knowledge you displayed during your first appearance shows understanding of the industry, and this has reflected in the performance of the ministry under you. I will, however, state that a lot still has to be done,” he said.
In a separate appearance at the green chambers, the chairman of the House of Representatives’ Committee on Power, Honourable Victor Nwokolo, said with commendation from committee members, the minister should have simply taken a bow and left, “but we will be shirking in our responsibility if we do not do the right thing as representatives of the Nigerian people who have elected us.”
Also speaking, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Renewable Energy, Honourable Afam Ogene, members representing Surulere II, Honourable Lanre Okunlola, and Ndokwa/Ukwuani Federal Constituency, Delta State, Honourable Ezechi Nnamadi, noted improvement in power supply. They, however, urged more engagements with National Assembly members in order to understand areas needing further government interventions.