Nebo appeals to NUPENG, PENGASSAN to shelve strike

By Etuka Sunday

The Minister of Power Prof. Chinedu Nebo has called on workers in the Petroleum Resources Sector to call off their industrial action.

The Minister made the call in Abuja Thursday, while speaking on the effect of the workers’ action on gas supply to the power plants.

A statement by the special assistant on media to the minister, Kande Daniel quoted the Nebo to have observed that the actions taken by members of NUPENG and PENGASSAN in the course of their ongoing strike have cut off gas supply to major power stations including Egbin, AES, Olorunsogo, Geregu and Sapele.

Prof. Nebo regretted the adverse effect of this development on power supply at a time when Government had recorded substantial progress in solving the gas problem, thereby raising peak generation in recent weeks to an average of 4,500, with a spinning reserve of about 300 MW.

Reports from across the country had also, within the period, indicated noticeable improvement in the quantity and quality of power supply to homes and businesses.

He therefore, decried the current setback arising from the oil and gas workers’ action, curtailing supply of gas to power stations, and reducing power generation.

This has inevitably led to a drastic reduction in power supply across the country.

The Power Minister assured that efforts were on to ensure a speedy and amicable resolution of the matter, and appealed for the understanding of electricity consumers affected by the development.

While appreciating the concerns and fears of the workers, the Minister also appealed to members of NUPENG and PENGASSAN to take into consideration, the enormous damaging socio-economic effect of their action on the nation, and return to work.

Prof. Nebo who also inspected Apo substation where a weather-induced explosion occurred during the week, assessed the extent of damage, and was assured by the TCN engineers, that efforts were on to restore supply to parts of Abuja affected by the incident, by Friday this week.

He further assured that results of Government’s efforts to effect a significant improvement in power supply would become even more evident in the coming weeks.

The Minister emphasized that the cause of fire that gutted the facility is nature induced from lightening sparks, he dismissed the insinuation that the accident could have been by attack or sabotage.