Minister of Power, Engineer Adebayo Adelabu says the power sector in the country is witnessing significant improvement following investments in infrastructure by the federal government which have enhanced power generation and distribution.
Speaking in Calabar yesterday during a working visit to Niger Delta Power Holding Company Power Plant in Calabar , the Minister said power generation, transmission and supply has witnessed an increase across the country in recent times and more effort is being invested to meet rising demand
“We want to meet expectations because other critical sectors of the economy are dependent on power supply and we are doing our best to optimise electricity supply across the country from 4000 megawatts this administration met to 6000 megawatts by the end of the year”
The Minister stated that the Calabar Power Plant is the most functional among the five power plants in the country and everything is being done to keep it in good condition to maintain a steady power supply in the country.
“”We are targeting increased electricity supply and unless we enhance the state of infrastructure like this one, we would continue to scratch the surface and we want to go beyond the surface by digging deep to make the business of power supply meaningful”
Engineer Adelabu said that President Tinubu’s administration has put in place legislation like the Electricity Act 2023 to beef up policies and initiative in the power sector.
“We are making policies and initiatives that will galvanise the production of power to determine variable improvement and the power distribution companies, DisCos are doing more to improve power supply”
The Minister, who expressed satisfaction with the state of infrastructure at the power plant stated that the five turbines of the Calabar Power Plant generate 625 megawatts with each generating 125 megawatt which is distributed to power consumers across the country
He said the federal government has imported ten transformers and mobile substations effectively going beyond the phase one level to the second phase.
“The Tinubu administration is investing more and more to make the power sector vibrant and all the players in the sector, transmission companies, distribution companies are playing their roles effectively”.
The Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, Engineer Chiedu Ugbo said the power plant has two evacuation corridors: one to Calàbar and environs while the other is to Ikot Ekpene in Akwa Ibom State through to Ugwuanyi in Enugu and from there to other parts of the country.
He said the power plant has expanded its power generation to Calàbar and plans are in place to take electricity to the central and northern parts of Cross River through transmission lines in Abakaliki in Ebonyi State.
