The Federal Government has pledged to complete the 1,994 abandoned rural electrification projects in different parts of the country.
The Minster of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, who inaugurated three injection substations in Lagos on Monday, said abandoned rural electrification projects across the country would be revived as part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s aspirations for the power sector.
The minister lamented that many of the 1,994 projects were abandoned at 90 per cent completion stage; a situation which he said signified a colossal loss of resources to the nation.
In view of this, he said, the Federal Government had already committed huge funds, captured in the 2013 budget, to revive and complete the abandoned projects.
He said, “The President is working very hard to ensure that the revival of the rural electrification project takes place this year. It is in record that the Rural Electrification Agency was moribund before the coming of President Goodluck Jonathan. The Rural Electrification Agency that was charged with electrifying the rural area has been scrapped.
“It was Jonathan that revived the agency and it has not only been revived, but government has ensured fund was pumped into it. Today, huge rural electrification projects have been advertised for completion.”
The Managing Director, Rural Electrification Agency, Mr. Kenneth Achugbu, had last year disclosed that a total of 1,994 rural electrification projects had been abandoned in different parts of the country over the years.
He explained that 1,946 of the projects were inherited by REA from the Ministry of Power, while 48 were initiated by the agency.
Achugbu said, “The agency, at inception, inherited 2,269 projects from the Ministry of Power and successfully completed and inaugurated 323. A total of 1,946 of the projects are at different levels of completion.
“The agency, on its own, awarded contracts for 158 rural electrification projects (113 grid projects and 45 solar-based projects). Sixty-five of these projects have been completed and inaugurated, while the rest are at different levels of completion.”
In its efforts to ensure improved power supply to consumers in its captive area, the Chief Executive Officer, Ikeja Distribution Company, Power Holding Company of Nigeria, Mr. Okaa Akamnonu, solicited for more support from the Federal Government, especially with respect to the replacement of the burnt 150MVA transformer at Ayobo area of Lagos.
Akamnonu made the plea in Lagos on Monday at the inauguration of the 37.5MVA injection substation by Nebo.
Akamnonu said, “This substation used to be submerged in water whenever it rains. It affects power supply to customers around Computer Village, Government Residential Area and Alausa area. But today, that challenge has been resolved. We implore the minister to assist with more funds to replace the burnt transformer and complete other projects within the zone.”