The Federal Government, on Wednesday, claimed that it has solved the power outage being experienced across the country.
However, the apex government blamed pipeline vandalisation, grid collapses among other challenges as causes of the recurrent nationwide blackout.
The Minister of Power, Abubakar Aliyu, disclosed this while briefing State House Correspondents after the week’s virtual Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
“We have recovered the grid now. The grid is back and we are trying to get more megawatts to push on the grid. We have set up small committees all geared towards getting more megawatts to put on the grid,” he told reporters.
He added, “The current challenges of electricity supply in Nigeria are being resolved with the ongoing restoration of normal operations. Early in the week, the national grid suffered a decrease in electricity due to so many factors. However, more of the power is being restored.
“The current energy crisis confronting some key sectors of the economy also contributed to the problems we are facing now in the power sector.
“We are where we are today also because of the increasing vandalization of pipelines that also supply gas to the power plants. This too is being resolved in collaboration with the relevant agencies. NNPC and other gas suppliers are working relentlessly to restore gas supply for optimum power supply.
“The government is doing everything — working with the relevant security agencies — to stop the vandalization of pipelines.
“Routine maintenance of power generating plants had also contributed to the current power outages we are experiencing.
“These challenges do not in any way indicate that the ongoing rehabilitation of the national grid by the government is not yielding results.
“Despite all the challenges, we are recording successes and the grid is being restored back to full operation. Government solicits the support of all Nigerians at this time, while efforts will continue to increase and stabilize the electricity supply across Nigeria.
The PUNCH
