The Federal Government (FG) has blamed terrorists in the country for the erratic power supply nationwide.
Addressing journalists on the issue of a consistent grid collapse, Minister of Power Abubakar Aliyu said efforts to ensure a steady power supply nationwide have so far been met with frustration by terrorists.
According to him, the terrorists vandalise critical power infrastructure in hard-to-reach areas, especially the Northeastern parts of the country.
Aliyu said the transmission infrastructure is being vandalised after every effort to install new ones, which often forces the government to resort to alternative but less efficient ways to supply electricity to affected areas in Maiduguri State.
The minister added that Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) officials could not access some vandalised power infrastructure in Shiroro, Niger State, as they are situated within terrorist strongholds.
He, however, noted that the power ministry is working closely with security agencies in the country to stem the activities of terrorists.
“We have a lot of challenges and it’s not that we are sleeping over them. We have vandalism on our lines, vandalism on our stations, substations. We have those ones that affect us indirectly, and directly. Like vandalism around oil pipelines which affect gas and once you don’t get gas to power, you don’t get the megawatts. Once there is no power coming from the generators, you know what that means.”
The second memo, he said, is to “procure power transformers and associated spare parts for the TCN to be deployed to six locations as follows: One is to Aiyede in Oyo State to MSSRS T and D technologies Limited. Offshore component is $1.8m. The onshore is N98m.
“The second one is Gusau in Zamfara State, same project to MSSRS Basharri limited. The third one is Kankia in Katsina State, which is to enjoy the same project to be supplied by MSSRS Farmamade energy limited.
“The next one is Minna, Niger State is also to enjoy some projects with MSSRS Crossworld global technology limited. Then the fifth one is to go to Okearo in Ogun to enjoy the same transformer.”
