Epileptic power supply: Power Minister accuses DisCos of failing to distribute power, summons TCN, DisCos MDs

The Minister of Power, Oloye Adebayo Adelabu has accused distribution companies (DisCos) of sabotaging efforts of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) in distributing power to Nigerians.

The Minister’s lamentation is predicated on the various complaints by Nigerians across the country on the epileptic power supply.

Reacting via his official X (formerly Twitter) page on Wednesday, Adelabu noted that he is deeply concerned about the deteriorating electricity supply across the country.

The Minister disclosed that he is working actively to resolve the issues as he has summoned the Chief Executives of Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) and Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), as well as the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), to a crucial meeting.

He said, “The purpose of that meeting is to discuss the worsening power supply in their respective regions and to collectively find lasting solutions.

“It is disheartening to witness the decline in power supply despite the concerted efforts to improve the situation.

“The Ministry has been exerting pressure on the Generating Companies (GENCOs) to enhance their performance, resulting in a recent increase in generation to over 4000MW.

“Despite this progress, certain distribution companies are failing to adequately distribute the power supplied by TCN, while vandalism of power infrastructure exacerbates the problem in regions such as Abuja, Benin, Port Harcourt, and Ibadan.

“Moving forward, I am committed to holding all distribution companies accountable for their performance. Willful non-performance will not be tolerated, and severe consequences, including license revocation, may be imposed.

“Additionally, I have instructed TCN to prioritise repair works on damaged transmission towers and power lines to improve supply in affected regions.

“During recent supervisory visits to power generating plants, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by the sector.

“Plans are underway to settle outstanding debts owed to power generation and gas supply companies, which will alleviate the financial strain and contribute to improved generation levels nationwide,” Adelabu said.

The Minister of Power also urged consumers to stay patient as the government intensifies efforts to tackle power challenges and enhance service delivery for all Nigerians.