FG to Distribute Transformers to Communities

The Federal Government Tuesday disclosed that it would give out electricity distribution equipments to communities across Nigeria that have been starved of power supply owing to damaged distribution facilities.

Minister of State for Power, Mr. Darius Ishaku, said communities whose power supply system had been distorted by damaged transformers and other distribution equipments would soon begin to take delivery of such from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

Ishaku in a statement from the ministry in Abuja, directed that all 33/11kv transformers, transformers panels, oil and other power equipments at PHCN central store in Shogunle Lagos be allocated to communities that need them within two weeks.

The statement explained that the minister who went on an unscheduled visit to the PHCN central stores was shocked to discover that about 2000 transformers and associated accessories for transmission and distribution of power were lying idle at the central stores while electricity consumers consistently complain of damaged infrastructures.

Ishaku also visited the Ikorodu port of the Nigeria Customs Services (NCS) to take inventory of power equipments within the custody of the customs authority since 2004; accordingly, he took delivery of such equipments from the Comptroller of the Port, Mr. Dan Ogu, who represented the Comptroller General of NCS, Mr.  Abdulahhi Dikko.

In his appreciation of efforts by the customs to protect the equipments from vandals all through the period they were kept in their custody, Ishaku stated that the equipments will further government’s efforts to grow power supply in the country.

He said: “The equipments would be distributed to all successor companies of the PHCN, that is, transmission, generation and distribution companies according to their requirements. A distribution committee would be set up today to identify areas of needs to enable each company take delivery of the available equipments.”

The minister noted that government is anxious to see a quantum leap in power supply to the citizenry and thus asked all Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of these companies to pick up their allocations from the port before the end of October.

The statement also explained that Ishaku was accompanied on the inspection by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Dere Awosika, and CEO of Eko and Ikeja Distribution Companies, Mr. Oladele Amoda and Mr. Chris Akamnonu.