*We’ll take advantage of new electricity law to improve power supply in Oyo – Makinde
WorldStage Newsonline– The Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu has said that the Federal Government is set to establish a new 330KV power substation in Ibadan.
Adelabu who disclosed this during his nationwide tour of power facilities in the area on Monday said that the successes of other sectors were anchored on the success of the power sector in Nigeria.
He also disclosed the federal government’s intention to upgrade and modernise the 46-year old Ayede power substation also in Ibadan, for improved performances.
“The establishment of the new 330KV power substation will help to ease the burden on the Ayede power station which has wide coverage and expansion of consumers.
“The power substation, being 46 year old, is currently faced with the challenges of old and weak power equipment that must be upgraded with modern appliances,” he said.
The minister added that the ministry had, in the last few months, embarked on complete and comprehensive diagnosis of the power sector in Nigeria with necessary consultations.
“We are now in a new phase, a stage of going round to see the state of power facilities, listening to consumers, staffs and other stakeholders.
“Nigerians expect so much from us, we must work together as stakeholders so that Nigerians will see gradual improved accelerated and sustainable power supply, ” he said.
Adelabu further said that the government had, through the office of the National Security Adviser, improved on the protection of power facilities all over the country.
He noted that government would not fold it arms and allow saboteurs to continue to destroy power equipment and installations.
The minister also pledged to prioritise the welfare of staff in the sector, so as to motivate them as well as ensure that hard work was adequately rewarded.
In his response, Taiwo Ojo, the Principal Manager, System Operations, Ayede Power Substation, said that the expansion of the transmission power substation with additional 330KV was long overdue.
He added that this was considering that other states like Lagos now had six power substations.
Ojo urged the ministry to expedite work on the Ayede-Isagamu transmission line, with a view to harnessing huge investment opportunities in the axis.
He lauded the minister’s decision to personally assess the state of power facilities in the country.
Makinde
Oyo State governor, ‘Seyi Makinde, said that his administration has begun to take advantage of the Electricity Act 2023 to transform the power supply situation in the state.
He described the new law as a game changer in the electricity sector, stating that the state will soon key into it, as it is set to sign its own version of the law soon.
The governor stated this on Monday, when he received the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, at the Executive Chambers of the Governor’s Office, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde, who congratulated Adelabu on his appointment and also expressed gratitude to God for saving him when he was involved in a plane crash recently, said his government does not mix politics with governance and that it will give the Minister the support needed to succeed.
The governor added that his administration would keep its doors open to interventions that can make life better for the people of the state.
He said: “During your speech, there was a power outage and that is what Nigerians face every day. But we do know that we can improve the electricity situation for our country.
“For us in Oyo State, the game changer is actually the Electricity Act 2023, and we will take full advantage of the law.
“As a matter of fact, we have started taking advantage of the new electricity law already and I should be signing the Oyo State version of the law by the end of this week or early next week, because it has been passed by the House of Assembly.
“Honourable Minister, let me give you the assurance that we don’t see division and politics when it comes to the issue of governance and ensuring that we provide good living conditions for our people.
“We don’t also see any problem in giving credit to whoever deserves it. If it is the Federal Government that assists us to get anything, we are ready to work together.
“Oyo State has the largest landmass in the entire South-West; that is why the Rural Electrification Agency of the Federal Government and our own Rural Electrification Board have been working together, and we believe we can achieve more.”
Speaking earlier, the Minister of Power, Chief Adelabu, said he was embarking on a nationwide visit to power installations, and that he chose to start with his home state.
He added that the visit is to critically assess the power sector through extensive consultations with the stakeholders across board, so as to unanimously agree on strategic implementation plans for the improvement, upgrade, modernisation and transformation of the power sector for uninterrupted power supply.
Adelabu, who described Makinde as his brother, called for partnership and collaboration between his Ministry and the Oyo State’s Ministry of Energy and its Rural Electrification Board.
He noted that one of the areas of collaboration is the provision of transformers to low-income areas, especially the rural communities in the state.
