Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Malam Muhammad Bello has called for an improvement in the volume of electricity supplied to Abuja to effectively power critical infrastructure.
Bello spoke when he received the management team of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), led by the new Managing Director, Mr. Usman Gur Mohammed, in his office.
The minister, who described the 11 per cent electricity allocated to the FCT and neighbouring states as inadequate, called on the TCN to allocate more power to the Abuja Distribution Company (AEDC), with specific instruction that the extra power be dedicated to FCT.
A statement by his Deputy Director/Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Sule, said: “Powering the city’s critical infrastructure like streetlights, hospitals, water treatment plants and waste management value chain, especially the liquid waste management, has been a big challenge with epileptic power supply.
“We have been faced with a number of options, like going off grid. But we realise that going off grid will require using fossil fuels and installing generators around the city; this of course affects the environment critically.
“Really, I want you to consider some short term solutions. We need power in Abuja, not just to make the city look beautiful, but for security as well.
Bello noted the FCT administration released N500 million to the AEDC as part payment for its bills.
Mohammed appreciated the warn reception accorded his team and promised that, in collaboration with the National Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), TCN will consider the minister’s request for more allocation of power to the Abuja zone.
He hinted that TCN is working on the possibility of bringing additional power lines through Lafia in Nasarawa State, to support the Gwagwaglada and Suleja lines.
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