Efforts To Address Liquidity Issues, End Pipeline Vandalism In Niger Delta Record Progress ·      As Fashola chairs 12th Monthly Meeting with Power Sector Operators in Ibadan ·      TCN announces completion of the Osogbo–Ede line, transformer installation project in New Bussa; progress on Abeokuta-Igboora-Lanlate Line, other transmission projects in Iseyin,Ago- Iwoye, Magboro, Benin-Akure, Gamo-Ogbomoso Progress has been reported on steps being taken by the Federal Government to address the issue of liquidity in the Power Sector just as the engagement of Niger Delta Communities by the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, to find lasting solution to pipeline vandalism in the region is also yielding fruitful results. The progress reports which also included key policy steps taken by the Federal Government to improve the stability of the Sector such as the inauguration of new Commissioners for the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) and the appointment of an interim Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to reform the company for a more robust service to the industry came to the fore on Monday at the 12th Monthly Meeting of the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN, with Power Sector Operators in Ibadan, Oyo State. In a Communiqué issued after the meeting which took place at the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) Olorunsogo Injection Substation, Akanran, Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, TCN also reported the completion of the Osogbo-Ede Transmission Line adding that it was awaiting connection to the soon to be completed substation which, according to the company would be achieved within the next 12 months. The company also reported progress on the projects in the host (IBEDC) region including Abeokuta-Igboora-Lanlate 132KV DC Line, Odogunyan substation and transmission line, and transmission substation in Iseyin, as well as transmission projects in Ago-Iwoye, Benin-Akure, Gamo-Ogbomoso and Magboro, while the meeting charged them to expedite action towards completion and service delivery. Also, in his submission at the Meeting, the Managing Director, Transmission Services Provider (TSP), Engr. Tom Uwah announced the completion of a transformer installation project in New Bussa adding that the substation should be ready for energizing in six weeks following the carrying out of pre-commissioning tests. Noting the negative impact of sabotage of gas pipelines, which, according to it has led to a severe limitation in power generation in the country, the Meeting commended the efforts of the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, in engaging communities in the Niger Delta in an effort to address their concerns and therefore, bring a lasting solution to pipeline vandalism. Also commending the Federal Government for the recent inauguration of the new commissioners of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission, and the appointment of an interim Managing Director for TCN, the Meeting, which described the policy step as vital to the reformation of the company for a more robust service to the industry, added that they would also improve the stability of the Power Sector. Expressing regrets that the gross liquidity problem was currently limiting the functioning of the sector, the Meeting acknowledged the work currently underway to identify, verify and pay the debts owed by government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA) to DisCos, as well as gas debts and generation debts. It noted with delight that the Abuja, Ikeja, Ibadan and Yola DisCos have complied with data requirements and that verification of their submission is underway “on a first come first serve basis”, pointing out that a deadline of 17th of February 2017 was set as a deadline for submission of audited and management accounts while February 28, 2017 was issued to receive submissions on MDA debts from the DisCos. On the need for safety in the installations and operations of the service providers, the Meeting, which commiserated with the family of victims of recent electrical accidents, charged all DisCos to reinvigorate their efforts on safety of their networks and facilities. The Meeting, while also harping on the need for good service delivery as one of the most viable means to stabilize the Sector, also directed the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) to monitor the resolution of the issues arising from such electrical accidents. The Meeting reiterated that service delivery should remain a key focus of the industry with enhanced efforts to engage community members in order to raise awareness and appreciation of work completed and resolved to undertake a stronger effort to connect the host communities of power installations to power supply. In continuation of the regular practice aimed at creating healthy competition among the service providers, the Market Operator (MO) announced at the meeting that the Eko DisCo showed the highest payment performance to service providers, followed by Yola DisCo, while it encouraged other operators to fulfil their obligations to the market. Apart from the Minister, who chaired the Meeting hosted by the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), other top officials in attendance at the Meeting were the Minister of State, Hon. Mustapha Baba Shehuri, one of the recently inaugurated Commissioners of NERC, Mr Dafe Akpeneye, Managing Directors and CEOs of GenCos, DisCos and the TCN. Also in attendance were various government agencies such as the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader (NBET), Nigerian Electricity Liability Management Company (NELMCO) and Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) responsible for the regulation and development of the electricity industry. The meeting, as usual, focused on identifying, discussing, and finding practical solutions to critical issues facing the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry. ...

Be Resolute And  Business Oriented, Fashola Charges New NERC Commissioners The Minister of PowerWorks and Housing, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, has charged the newly inaugurated Commissioners of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), to be firm but fair, regulate but be business oriented, calling on them to be resolute in the discharge of  their duties. The Minister gave this charge while inaugurating the Commissioners,on Tuesday in Abuja. He stated that with the new Commissioners on board, the Ministry and the Commission will now focus rigorously on policy formulation and regulation respectively. The Minister who stated that the Commissioners were chosen as ‘’prescribed by law’’, emphasized that their appointments will ‘’provide stability in governance, regulatory actions and institutions building to the sector’’. Furthermore it will allow the Ministry to ‘’focus on policy, coordination and completion of ongoing generation and transmissions projects’’ Fashola, who used the opportunity to reiterate government’s preparedness to create an enabling environment for would be investors to operate, stated that they can now channel their requests and enquiries to the Commission for licenses to generate power, build coal, solar plant etc. Heequally appealed to youths in the Niger Delta Area to embrace peace and dialogue as he lamented that Nigeria currently lost about 3000MW due to the vandalisation of gas pipelines that provide gas to the power plants in the Country. The Minister said that with present capacity of 3500MW, the sector would have achieved 6500MW which will significantlyincreasethe quantum of electricity to Industries and Households. The Six Commissioners inaugurated by the Minister are; Engr. SanusiGarba, Prof. Frank Okafor, DafeAkpeneye. Others are, Nathan Roger Shattti, Dr. MusiliuOseni and Dr. Moses Arigu. Responding, the Vice- Chairman of the Commission, Engr. SanusiGarba, on behalf of the newly inaugurated Commissioners, commended President MuhammaduBuhari for thehonour given to them to serve the nation as well as steer the affairs of the Commission. Engr. Sanusi re-affirmed the commitment of the Commissioners in dischargingtheir duties and promised to work diligentlyandhonestly in regulating the affairs of the sector and promise not to betray the confidence charged on them. ...

FG approves construction of Ilorin-Omuaran-Kabba road; Consultancy for transmission lines. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) also on Wednesday approved the construction of the section 1 of the Ilorin-Omuaran-Kabba Road for N21 billion to link Kwara and Kogi states. The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, said that FEC also approved a N589 million consultancy for Environmental Impact Assessment on the 200 kilometre Olorunshogbo Transmission line. Fashola said the projects were consistent with the programmes of the federal government to reduce travel time and improve power supply to parts of the country.. “The second approval was for consultancy services for professionals to conduct line-route studies, Environmental Social Impact Assessment and resettlement action plan as well as environmental social management plan. “(It) is in order for us to access the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) loan to support the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to continue its transmission grid expansion programme.’’ The Minister said that the TCN projects cover the routes which the transmission line would pass through. He added that the 200 kilometre line would enable TCN evacuate power from the Olorunshogbo power plant to industrial clusters in Ogun and parts of Lagos state. In his briefing, the Minister of Agriculture, Chief Audu Ogbe, said that the committee set up on the rising cost of food prices has submitted an interim report to the Council. According to him, the committee identified the causes of the rise in prices as high cost of transportation and illegal taxation by states and local governments on producers and transporters. He said that the good thing was that there was no real shortage of food, adding that Nigerians were groaning under the pain of high prices. He attributed the high cost of transportation to the complete reliance on roads for evacuation of produce coupled with high cost of diesel and difficulties of trucks to move to places at the old fares. “So we considered the following alternatives using railway wagons on the current railway networks as we did before. When we moved cattle from the North West to Lagos by rail, we brought down the costs. “We avoided the multiple taxation visited on transporters in this country by local governments, road blocks, most of them not very legal, along the high ways, which delay movement and cause damage to a lot of foods like tomatoes. “We decided to work with the state governments and the police to reduce those delays and we are going to adapt what they have in Cote D’Ivioire where trucks carrying food are given labels. “In fact in Cote D’Ivoire, they cannot be stopped for more than 10 minutes anywhere even if something serious has happened. “The security agencies will follow them to the port or to their destinations and come back to investigate whatever happens. “Finally, we shall be looking into our reserves , if the situation in the next few days persists, then we have to see what we can bring out to lower the prices. (This is) because another round of harvests would be coming up again by the end of March,"Audu Ogbe said. The Minister said there was really no starvation in the country, adding that there was also a lot of pressure on Nigerian food from West, North and Central Africa. “Our food production is very robust and we are doing pretty well,’’ he added. ...