The Minister of Power, Bayo Adelabu, has insisted that he is staying focused on the plan to provide 24-hour electricity to Nigerians.
The Minister stated this in Ibadan, Oyo State, at the first Annual Socio-Economic Summit organised by Jericho Business Club.
He explained that past governments tried to solve the hydra-headed monster in the power sector, but ineffective measures and plans have rendered their policies useless.
“The agenda to provide 24-hour electricity for Nigerians is still ongoing. Our people have suffered so much in energy poverty,” he said.
“Our mandate is to ensure that we do what we are supposed to do for a steady and effective electricity supply. The problems with the power sector are numerous.
“The Generating Sector has its problems, the Electricity Distribution Companies have their challenges, and the consumers are also facing problems, I mean the households.
“What we have done is to identify these challenges and map out strategies for enduring and workable solutions.
“For example, we have a huge metre gap with the customers because many households and businesses have no metre. Without a metre, you cannot bill, sustain and collect revenues. We are trying to reduce the metre gap to ensure every household or business has a metre.
“We are also working on stronger and effective legislation to ensure that all theft and vandalisation of power assets by anybody becomes a thing of the past.
“When you destroy the transmission lines and power cables, you will quickly face the wrath of laws.
“We want to fast-track trials of power thieves and vandals to urgently serve as a deterrent to other criminals.”
