Claim of 20hour power supply by Minister laughable — Group

A group named Electricity Consumer Protection Advocacy Centre (ECPAC) has described the Ministry of Power’s assertion that over 40 percent of Nigerians enjoy 20 hours of daily electricity supply as laughable.

ECPAC Executive Director Chief Princewill Okorie made this known in a statement on Monday noting that the minister’s claims lacks credibility.

Recall that Minister of Power, Oloye Adebayo Adelabu on Sunday reported improvements in Nigeria’s electricity supply, stating, “Today we generate over 5,500 megawatts of power… You can see that there is significant improvement.”

He attributed this progress to reforms initiated under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

This has however sparked scepticism from consumer advocates, who argue that the data lacks transparency and accuracy.

Comtinui8ng on his statement, Okorie questioned the Minister asking, “Where are the reports from the 36 states? With 774 local governments, if you take 40 percent of the population, you’ll see the reality.”

He further called for the establishment of a consumer protection department within the Ministry of Power to collect accurate data and address consumer complaints, asserting, “The data is false, and the government should look at and their experiences. We want to see real-time data and solutions, not just announcements.” resolving the electricity consumers’ complaints rather than dishing out false reports.”

Adelabu highlighted the ministry’s focus on infrastructure improvements and the recent signing of the Electricity Act of 2023, which aims to decentralise the sector.

He noted, “Installed generation capacity has increased from 13,000 MW to over 14,000 MW,” facilitated by new hydroelectric plants and upgrades to existing facilities.

Despite these assertions, consumer advocates remain unconvinced. Okorie reiterated the need for genuine engagement with consumers, stating, “The government must engage with actual consumers and their experiences. We want to see real-time data and solutions, not just announcements.”

Adelabu emphasised the critical role of stable electricity for economic growth, asserting, “For most developed nations, the first step towards success was achieving reliable, functional, and affordable electricity.”

He pointed to countries like South Korea and China, stating, “Their stability in electricity supply has been instrumental to their economic growth and industrial development.” He further noted that achieving stable electricity is part of the Renewed Hope Agenda outlined by President Tinubu, which is essential for driving growth across critical sectors.

Concluding his remarks, Adelabu outlined the ministry’s vision: “Our vision is to ensure that we provide households, businesses, and institutions with stable electricity supply. This will enable them to power their activities, improve their capacity, and create more jobs.”

He added, “In a country like South Korea, industrial giants like Samsung and LG didn’t just become global giants overnight. They were supported by the government through the provision of stable and reliable electricity for their operations. This is the vision we have for Nigeria.”