Transmission Capacity Has Improved By 40% – Hon. Wakil

Signs MoU with American Coy for solar projects

Transmission capacity of power sector has improved by forty percent and generation capacity has also increased tremendously owing to massive injection of fund by this administration and the on-going privatization exercise, Minister of State (Power} Hon Mohammed Wakil has declared.

“I am happy to say that power sector has improved tremendously compared with what President Goodluck Jonathan inherited when he assumed office. Records of where we were in generation, transmission and distribution in the electricity value chain have confirmed that the sector is placed on a strong footing for growth and service delivery”, the Minister said.

He was speaking at the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Global Business Resources USA for the generation of 50MW of electricity in Abuja and Kano, in his office on Friday.

The Minister said transmission capacity improved because new transmission lines and sub-stations were constructed, installed and put into use. He said generation capacity also increased tremendously following rehabilitation of old generating plants and the completion of new power plants, i.e National Integrated Power Projects (NIPPs).

He explained further that distribution network is also undergoing rehabilitation and upgrade by the various distribution companies, noting that old transformers are been replaced and metering-gap are soon to be resolved through adequate provision of meters in days ahead Government has  promised to bring in meters while it is also working assiduously with new owners to increase their capacities.

“With where we are now and gas to power issues tackled, President Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda in the power sector is on track and irreversible. In due course, the gains we have recorded in generation, transmission and distribution sub-sectors will manifest more directly and openly to Nigerians’, he said.

Going down the memory lane, Hon. Wakil traced the journey that culminated into signing of today’s MoU to the challenge by Mr. President for officials to woo foreign investors; he commended James Nicholas’s led Global Resources for the lead in promoting renewable energy source. He said the proposed 50MW for Abuja and Kano is a good investment module from the U.S to Nigeria, adding that Government would complement the efforts of the company in ensuring the realization of the solar project.

Speaking after putting pen to paper, James Nicholas of Global Resources of U.S said it is not a misplaced fact that he and his team believe in the Nigerian dream.

He said the 1^st phase of the project could be increased from 50MW to 65MW, while promising to contract a South-African firm in providing security for the facilities with the aid of electronic fences.

He said from the Time line set, the project can be realized from the 3^rd quarter of 2016; he said his company will fast track and ensure the project is delivered as planned.

Earlier, the Director of Legal Services, Mrs. Adetutu Shoetan had informed the company that on the part of the Ministry, it would create an enabling environment for the realization of the project, just as she challenged the company to provide a training platform for Nigerians in order to generate employment and build their capacities to enable them run the plant on completion.