26 June 2013, Abuja – The Federal Government has admitted that it was facing serious challenges fixing the problematic power sector, adding that the sector was bedevilled by a lot of man-made challenges as well as that of age-long neglect.
Nationwide power generation had dropped to 2,290 MW on Monday, leaving a large number of the country’s about 160 million people in darkness.
Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said in Abuja, while receiving the report of a technical investigative panel on system collapses in Nigeria’s electricity sector headed by former official in the Ministry, Mr. Fatai Olapade, that Nigerians must see and protect public infrastructure as their own.
He stated that the situation in the power sector was getting out of hand and called for the support of Nigerians in checking vandalism of power facilities being put in place by the government.
According to him: “It is interesting to note that some of the causes of system collapses could be corrected by very simple work that could be done seemingly effortlessly.
“I will like to plead with the generality of our people to understand that we are facing very difficult times in the power sector. Some of these problems are man-made, some have accrued from years of under-funding and under-development of the sector.”
The disruption of gas supply to several generating stations had worsened electricity supply in the country.
Speaking further on the development, Nebo said: “And occasionally vandalism and sabotage, gas pipeline are vandalised as we saw this weekend.
“I do hope that with time we will mature to a level where we see infrastructure that is being put in place by government for the empowerment of the people as a sacred trust that should not be abused.”
The minister urged Nigerians to stop unwholesome acts and behaviours that impoverished the people, adding that protecting public facilities was a job for all Nigerians.
He said the panel would be retained to implement their findings and assured that the report would not be placed on
– This Day
