How explosion at Kainji caused nationwide blackout – Power minister, Adelabu
The Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, has revealed that ongoing improvements in power generation and distribution could lead to a reduction in electricity tariffs across Nigeria.
In a statement released by his Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Media, Mr Bolaji Tunji, the Minister disclosed this during a meeting with the Executive Secretary of the National Lottery Trust Fund, Mr Tosin Adeyanju.
Currently, electricity customers in Band-A pay ₦206.5 per kWh following the Federal Government’s removal of subsidies for that category, which was implemented in exchange for a guaranteed minimum of 20 hours of power supply daily. The Minister recently disclosed that 40% of customers now receive this amount of power with generation averaging 5500MW.
The Minister explained that the “price of electricity is still the cheapest in Nigeria, compared to even other African nations such as Togo, Mali and Niger Republic”.
He added however “that the low level of income in Nigeria makes the cost looks high to consumers”.
He also said that “it is still far cheaper to use electricity than to run generators, using petrol or diesel, going by the prices of those commodities today”, stating that there is a “possibility of reduction in the current tariff as generation and distribution are ramped up”.
Also speaking, the National Lottery boss, Adeyanju commended the Minister for his outstanding performance, his competence, and capacity, since his assumption of office about a year ago, and for restoring the confidence of Nigerians in the power sector.
“Permit me to address you as a performing minister of Power, because since 1999, we have not witnessed the improvement that we have in the electricity supply in the country, as we have today. Before now, many were already opting for solar as supply was abysmal. But you have restored people’s confidence in the sector since you came on board”, Adeyanju said.
He informed the Minister that as part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, the agency is working to get the youths, particularly in the rural areas, to be productive by training them on how to assemble One Kilowatt of solar energy.
“We have come to you to seek partnership with you on how we can train our rural people, particularly the youths, on how they can assemble one kilowatt of solar energy. This will help a long way in addressing youth restiveness by creating employment for them, particularly those who have acquired skills such as hairdressing, vulcanizing, welding and so on.
“This is part of our effort to help President Tinubu achieve his aim of addressing the challenges of unemployment among the rural people and the youths in general. We want to carry this out in all the local government areas of the country and since we have seen your commitment in this area of power supply, we have decided to approach your ministry for partnership to achieve this”, Adeyanju said.