We are installing electronic gadgets to checkmate vandalism-Nebo

• …advocates for continuity in power sector policy direction

By Etuka Sunday

he Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo has said that electronic gadgets are being installed to checkmate the menace of vandalism in the power sector.

This, according to him, would enhance the current efforts of the federal government and the private sector in ensuring a stable electricity supply to Nigerians.

“Most of our power supply in Nigeria is based on Gas with about 70% Gas-fired turbine and 30% Hydro. When we have a holistic energy mix, things will get much improved. Oil thieves, Vandals who break into our Pipelines make it difficult for Nigerians to even benefit from what this government has done.

“We have far larger capacity installed than the power we are given out because of gas supply. That is being taken care of. More forces are being deployed. Electronic gadgets are being installed to ensure that at any point of disruption our security forces will know and know how to forestall it,” he said.

A statement by the Technical Adviser on Media to the Minister of Power, Sunny Igboanugo quoted Nebo to have stated that Nigerians would have enjoyed much more stable power supply, if the activities of vandals blowing up pipelines had not increased in recent times.

A few days ago shortly after most parts of the country celebrated the yuletide with stable power which drew a lot of praises for the Government, vandals struck again by bursting at many points the main pipelines supplying gas to power station, this resulted in a steep drop in generation capacity and by extension available on the national grid.

Decrying the situation, which he said had become a trend for a long time now, Nebo said the Federal Government was taking measures on including installing electronic gadgets to track down the unwholesome elements at the point of perpetrating their illicit acts.

He noted that the sector would suffer seriously if the well-laid out policies were disrupted at this time adding that Nigerians must therefore make the choice of staying on course by giving the President maximum support in this regards or rubbish the gains already recorded.

“Continuity is very essential and critical because don’t want policy summersault. We are now on a trajectory and we hope to consolidate that trajectory. We need the media to spread the information on why our People should make use of energy saving bulbs to conserve voltage.

Setting the Agenda for the future he said, “I see a Nigeria where Hospitals, Schools, households in far villages that never thought electricity because national grid cannot get to them, are connected to electricity via renewable energy and lighted up.

“Most of Nigerians who live in rural area don’t have access to electricity because they were marginalized. And so, instead of them make use electricity to cook and do other things electricity could do for them. The fumes from various cooking materials cause lots of damages to their respiratory systems and even their eyes are damaged just because they have no access to electricity.

“The cost of taking electricity is huge. But with renewable energy mix which is sustainable and durable with incredible potential for rural communities, the health and living standard of the People will greatly improve coupled with provision of substantial power for industries.”