Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe says some electricity consumers have asked the Federal Government to slow down its efforts to improve power supply because their freezers are now working as expected. According to News Central, Tegbe made the remark on Wednesday while speaking at the commissioning of a 3-megawatt solar……
Minister of Power Joseph Tegbe says some electricity consumers have asked the Federal Government to slow down its efforts to improve power supply because their freezers are now working as expected.
According to News Central, Tegbe made the remark on Wednesday while speaking at the commissioning of a 3-megawatt solar hybrid power project at the University of Abuja.
The minister said recent interventions in the power sector had improved electricity supply in some areas that previously experienced prolonged outages.
“Places that didn’t have light at all for three months are now having 18 hours of light. Some areas called me to say, look, I should slow down, that everything in their freezer is freezing.”
“That is what a freezer is meant to do. Let it freeze the food that needs to be frozen,” he said.
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Tegbe recalled that during his Senate screening, he assured Nigerians that the impact of ongoing reforms in the electricity sector would begin to become noticeable within three to six months.
He, however, acknowledged the ageing infrastructure and other challenges confronting the sector, saying the government was gradually replacing outdated facilities.
“Some of the infrastructure we have in the electricity and power sector are more than 40 years old. We’re systematically replacing them, phasing them out and bringing new ones,” Tegbe said.
The minister also raised concerns over the vandalism of electricity infrastructure, citing the destruction of three major transmission towers in Birnin Kebbi.
According to him, the towers were part of the infrastructure supplying electricity to Kebbi State and extending power to Niger Republic.
He said the vandals targeted the foundations of the towers before bringing them down and cutting parts of the structures for sale as scrap.
“You will not believe how many towers get pulled down by vandals,” he said.
Tegbe said the Federal Government had responded by establishing a joint working committee comprising the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to monitor and protect critical national electricity assets.
He added that the government was also working to ensure that vandalism of critical power infrastructure was treated as a serious criminal offence.
Speaking on the University of Abuja solar project, Tegbe said the facility comprises a 3.3-megawatt solar array, 3MW AC output capacity and battery storage designed to provide reliable electricity to key facilities on campus.
He said the project would supply power to lecture halls, laboratories, ICT facilities, administrative buildings, campus lighting and other essential services.
According to the minister, more than 58,726 students are expected to benefit from the project, which includes 6,078 photovoltaic panels and 388 streetlights installed across the university.
