Poor power supply: FG summons Abuja, Ibadan distribution companies

The Minister of Power, Dr. Adebayo Adelabu, has summoned the chief executives of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company and the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company over the worsening power supply in their regions.

Also summoned is the Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Mr. Sule Abdulazeez, over the deteriorating power situation across the country since the beginning of this year.

Worried by the development, the minister, in a letter signed by the Director, Distribution Services at the Federal Ministry of Power, Mr. B.U. Mustapha, ordered the CEOs of the Discos and the TCN to attend the meeting scheduled for the coming week.

They are expected to discuss issues concerning the worsening electricity supply in their regions with a view to proffering a lasting solution.

Also, the minister’s Special Adviser, Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Mr. Bolaji Tunji, said the management of other non-performing discos would also be queried over non-performance as reports continue to filter in on the situation in their regions.

“So, we expect power supply to have improved across the country, unlike what we are experiencing in some regions presently.

“Findings revealed that some distribution companies were deliberately not taking up power supply from TCN, while some power lines were also damaged by vandals in Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan regions.

“Wilful non-performance by any disco could suffice as a reason for severe punishment or outright licence revocation,” a statement said.

The minister also directed TCN to immediately commence repair work on the damaged transmission towers and power lines in order to improve supply in the affected regions.

Persecondnews reports that states across the country and the Federal Capital Territory are currently experiencing pangs of power outages as the searing heat from the prevailing weather conditions continues to bite harder.

Many communities have been experiencing total darkness for several weeks since the new year began.

TCN disclosed in January that there has been a gradual decrease in available generation into the grid due to gas constraints, Persecondnews recalls.

The company added that this has impacted the quantum of bulk power available on the transmission grid for onward transmission to the distribution load centres nationwide.