Energy

Expert counsels new power minister to ensure stability of national grid

Published

5 years ago

September 2, 2021

Mr Kola Balogun, Chairman, MOMAS Electricity Meter Manufacturing Company (MEMMCOL), has urged the new Minister of Power, Mr Abubakar Aliyu, to ensure stability of the national grid.

Balogun gave the advice in an interview on Thursday, in Lagos.

President Muhammadu Buhari had on Wednesday appointed Aliyu to oversee the Power Ministry following the sacking of his predecessor, Mr Salleh Mamman.

Balogun said: ” Expectantly, one of the recent issues we have been having in the power sector is the incessant collapse of the national grid.

“The new minister should be tasked in ensuring that there is stability in the grid network, so that we minimise system collapse and have stable supply.”

According to him, the minister should also encourage all the electricity Distribution Companies ( DisCos) to improve on their infrastructure.

“We still have a lot of dilapidated infrastructure which prevents consumers from enjoying quality power supply. He should encourage the DisCos to improve on their infrastructure and expand their networks.

“They should buy more transformers and cables to strengthen their networks, so that by the time the government is able to improve on generation, the consumers will enjoy stable supply,” he said.

Balogun further tasked the new minister to ensure the continuation of the National Mass Metering Programme (NMMP) of the Federal Government.

He noted that the NMMP, which was flagged off on Oct. 30, 2020 should be sustained in order to meet the target of closing the metering gap in the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry by December 2021.

Similarly, he advised Aliyu to ensure that there was local content compliance in the meter manufacturing industry to encourage local manufacturers.