Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has revealed that some Nigerians are now asking him to “slow down” after improvements in electricity supply saw some areas receive as much as 18 hours of power daily.
Tegbe disclosed this on Wednesday in Abuja while speaking at the commissioning of a 3-megawatt solar hybrid power project at Yakubu Gowon University, formerly known as the University of Abuja.
The minister said the improved supply had generated feedback from electricity consumers, including some who were concerned that their freezers were now running continuously.
He said some areas that previously went for months without electricity were now recording significantly longer periods of supply.
“Places that didn’t have light at all for three months are now having 18 hours light. Some areas called me to say, look, I should slow down, that everything in their freezer is freezing.
“That is what freezer is meant to do. Let it freeze the food that needs to be frozen,” Tegbe said.
Tegbe recalled that he had told senators during his screening that Nigerians would begin to notice changes in electricity supply within three to six months.
However, he acknowledged that the Federal Government still had substantial work to do in the power sector, particularly with ageing infrastructure.
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According to him, some electricity facilities across the country have been in use for more than four decades and are being replaced gradually.
“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,” he said.
The minister also expressed concern over the continued destruction of electricity infrastructure by vandals.
He disclosed that three transmission towers in Birnin Kebbi had recently been pulled down, affecting infrastructure serving Kebbi State and extending towards Niger Republic.
Tegbe explained that the vandals reportedly weakened the foundations of the towers before bringing them down and removing portions of the structures for sale as scrap.
To tackle the problem, he said the government had constituted a joint committee involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC, the Nigeria Police and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC.
The committee, he said, would focus on protecting critical national electricity infrastructure.
“You will not believe how many towers get pulled down by vandals,” the minister said.
He added that efforts were underway to ensure that the destruction of critical power infrastructure attracted serious criminal consequences
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