FG to complete 190 transmission, distribution projects – Fashola

The Federal Government is working on commissioning about 190 transmission and distribution projects, just as the minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has tasked the Distribution Companies (DisCos) on improving their networks.

Fashola said this at the 26th monthly power sector operators meeting held at the Ohiya transmission substation in Umuahia, Abia State, yesterday.

In his speech, he said some Nigerians have publicly acknowledged that “they are saving some money from diesel they used to spend for generators. They are running their generators for fewer hours, and are getting comparably more power than before.”

To improve power supply, he said the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has over 90 expansion projects.

“TCN will be commissioning nationwide in the next few weeks and months. Some are completed and some are nearing completion,” Fashola said, adding that the 40MVA transformer at the Umuahia substation and 60MVA substation at Aba sub-station were slated for commissioning yesterday.

For the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), he said over 100 distribution projects were at various completion stages under the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP).

He said: “Over the next few weeks and months, they will be going out to commission and energize those projects.”

Addressing the DisCos, the minister charged them to increase their customer complaints handling and fix their networks as the ministry has been getting numerous complaints from electricity users.

He said: “Get your employees out on the field; get them to inspect lines, breakers, transformers and other distribution equipment.

“Get them to visit consumers and ask if they have problems, and fix them. Get them to do preventative maintenance and notify your consumers in advance if it will result in disruptions of service, and state very clearly how long it will take,” Fashola tasked them.

Although he acknowledged the difficulty involved in doing that, he noted the confidence he reposed in them saying, “I know that you can do it, and I wait eagerly with other Nigerians as you roll out to prove us right for vesting these assets in you.”