Measures to enhance power generation, distribution ongoing, says Adelabu

Adebayo Adelabu, minister of power, says efforts are under way to enable Nigerians enjoy stable and sustainable power supply.

Adelabu spoke on Tuesday when he paid an inspection visit to the Calabar power plant of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company.

The minister said the country is witnessing significant improvements in the power sector following investments in infrastructure by the federal government.

The investments, he said, have enhanced power generation and distribution, noting that the goal is to meet the 6,000 megawatts (MW) target by the end of the year and ensure stable electricity supply across the nation.

On March 11, Adelabu had said there were plans to raise electricity generation from 4,000MW to 6,000MW, within the next three to six months.

The minister, on July 27, also said Nigeria’s power sector generated 5,105MW of electricity.

“There has been an increase in energy demands and the government is working relentlessly with commitment to meet the demands,” Adelabu said.

“We want to meet expectations because other critical sectors of the economy are dependent on the power supply and we are doing our best to optimise electricity supply across the country from 4000 megawatts this administration met to 6000 megawatts by the end of the year.

“We are targeting increased electricity supply and unless we enhance the state of infrastructure like this one, we would continue to scratch the surface and we want to go beyond the surface by digging deep to make the business of power supply meaningful.

“We are making policies and initiatives which will galvanise the production of power to determine variable improvement and the power distribution companies are doing more to improve power supply.”

Adelabu also said the Calabar power plant is the most functional of the five power plants in the country.

The minister, who said he was impressed with the state of infrastructure at the power plant, noted that efforts are being made to keep it in good condition to sustain electricity supply across the country.

He said the five turbines of the power plant generate 625 megawatts, with each generating 125 megawatts. 

Adelabu said the federal government has imported 10 transformers and mobile substations effectively going beyond the phase one level to the second phase.

On his part, Chiedu Ugbo, managing director of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company, said the power plant has two evacuation corridors: one to Calabar and environs while the other is to Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom through to Ugwuanyi in Enugu and from there to other parts of the country.

He said the plant has expanded its power generation to Calabar and plans are in place to take electricity to the central and northern parts of Cross River through transmission lines in Abakaliki in Ebonyi state.