FG blames power outage nationwide on low water level at hydro dams 

In spite of the huge investment in gas-powered electricity generation, the Federal Government has blamed the current unstable power supply across the country on low water level in hydro dams.

The Minister of Power, Alhaji Abubakar Aliyu, who disclosed this during the weekly State House ministerial briefing on Thursday in Abuja, explained that overload on the nation’s power plants, maintenance work in the eastern region of the country, and challenges in the Okoloma Gas Station have inhibited the units from reaching optimum supply.

He said the government, under the Siemens Presidential Power Initiatives, is working to ensure an optimum supply of gas to facilitate the speedy restoration of power.

Providing details of electricity supply in the country, Aliyu said the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry has delivered “grid, captive, and embedded power” to the tune of almost 8,000MW daily against the speculated 4,000MW.

Speaking on the national metering programme, the minister said the metering gaps are being reduced across the country with the rollout of one million pre-paid meters for the first phase of the initiative while awaiting four million others under the second phase.

He, however, warned distribution companies (DISCOS) involved in selling meters to desist from such act as meter procurement is free.

We are engaging with the state governors through the Nigerian Governors Forum to drive a holistic solution to these lingering issues.

“Some examples of critical projects held up by right of way are the Benin to Osogbo 330 KV line which is 250 kilometers, Ikot Ekepene to Ikot Abasi also 330 KV line 68 kilometer and the Kano-Katsina 330 KV line 180 Kilometer,” Aliyue said.

On the 700 megawatts Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Station in Niger State, Aliyu said the project which is at 90 percent completion suffered a setback over the rising insecurity in the Northwest which has forced workers out of the construction site.

Persecondnews.com recalls that federal government had set December 2021 for the completion and commissioning of the project which is expected to be the second-largest hydroelectric power station in the country, behind the 760 megawatts (1,020,000 hp), Kainji hydroelectric project.

The Minister also disclosed that the federal government had secured and is executing up to $4 billion in investments in the national grid to ensure more power is delivered to citizens.