Buhari’s order to operators, reason for improved power supply, says FG

The Federal Government has said the directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to the managers of the country’s power sector to ensure stability in supply during his tenure is the reason Nigerians are experiencing improvement in supply.

The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Power Godknows Igali made this known yesterday in Abuja while signing Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with two indigenous investors in the power sector, that “the recent increase in power supply is not as a result of rain, as speculated in some quarters, as marginal improvement from our hydro cannot be responsible for this fact.

“The steady increase in power supply recently experienced in the country is due to the fact that Mr. President has charged power sector actors to redouble their efforts, leaving no stone unturned in the quest for uninterrupted power supply to Nigerians during his tenure.”

A statement issued yesterday by the Deputy Director Press in the Ministry Timothy Oyedeji also added that improved supply of gas to the thermal plants contributed in no small measure to the current supply being enjoyed by Nigerians and the presidential directive gave vent for this to be achieved.

“It is as a result of increase in gas supply to the thermal plants as well as our anti-vandalism campaign is also yielding positive results.” That is why power supply has improved.

Igali said government is determined to look in the direction of renewable energy, hence more emphasis will be placed on solar energy source, in order to sustain the trend to which he reasoned that “with clusters of solar plants built across the country, technical losses occasioned by hauling of energy over long distances will be reduced, as just this renewable source can be deployed effectively. Captive Power in embedded manner will also be available to DISCOs at the distribution level”.

The MoU signed with Messrs. New Horizons Energy Resources and Quaint Global Energy Solutions, two companies with interested in renewable projects, especially Solar, Biomass and Thermal Plant, will see to the desired diversification and further boost the sector.

While commending these companies for working with the government of Nigeria in the development of mini power generation and micro grid, with the hope that these efforts will translate into power stability and reliability, Igali assured that “the Transmission Company of Nigeria is working on those critical corridors that would enhance the nation’s transmission capacity, enough to evacuate all energy to be produced now that more gas will be available to the thermal plants”.

Responding, Seun Solesi of Quaint Global Energy Solutions said his company is to enjoy a grant of $1.3 million from the Obama Power Africa Initiative’s United States Trade Development Agency to carry out feasibility studies for its 50MW solar powered plant in Machiok, Kaura L.G.A, Kaduna State.

He added with these foreign partners the project is to start in earnest on the land of 150 hectares approved by Governor Nasir El-Rufai.