Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, has voiced his concerns regarding the tendency to politicize technical difficulties in the nation's power sector. He also refuted claims of incompetence that have been leveled against him by members of the Oyo State House of Assembly.
In a statement released by Bolaji Tunji, who serves as the minister's Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations, Adelabu emphasized that the transmission issues affecting the Ibarapa region have been ongoing and predate the current federal administration. The statement indicated that these problems were largely a consequence of insufficient funding and outstanding compensation issues related to essential infrastructure owned by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).
The minister's office characterized the politicization of what are primarily technical matters as regrettable and appealed to the lawmakers to focus on fostering constructive dialogue and cooperation between federal and state authorities to enhance electricity supply within Oyo State.
According to the statement, the State Assembly should concentrate on its constitutional duties, especially in light of recent legislative amendments that have placed electricity on the Concurrent Legislative List. This change grants states the authority to generate, transmit, and distribute power within their respective territories.
While a number of states have leveraged these new provisions to pursue independent power projects, the ministry noted that Oyo State has not yet fully capitalized on these opportunities to complement the federal government's efforts.
The statement further raised questions about why the Assembly has not held the state government accountable for the failed Independent Power Project initiated with Elektron Energy, despite substantial public funds being allocated to it. The contractor, it was reported, ceased operations due to consistent non-payment.
Furthermore, the ministry expressed surprise that these issues are being raised by the Assembly after nearly seven years in office and with less than a year remaining before the next general elections. The action was described as politically motivated, aimed at discrediting the Minister rather than genuinely addressing concerns about service delivery.
Adelabu affirmed that decisive actions are being taken to re-establish a stable electricity supply to Ibarapaland. He explained that the significant delays in the transmission project were primarily due to the non-disbursement of funds designated for compensating affected landowners – a situation that arose before his tenure as minister.
The ministry revealed that contractors are currently on-site to assess the properties and initiate compensation payments, which will then allow for the full implementation of the project. It confirmed that all necessary equipment for the project has already been acquired.
“Previously neglected and vandalised TCN facilities in the area are undergoing repairs, and electricity supply has been restored to Ibarapa Central following extended periods of disruption. Additionally, street lighting projects have been executed in several communities to improve safety and foster economic activity,” Adelabu stated.
The statement clarified that the responsibility for last-mile electricity distribution in Oyo State, including Ibarapa, rests with the Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC). This company manages feeders, transformers, metering, and billing processes.
“The ministry continues to collaborate with IBEDC to improve service delivery and address issues related to estimated billing in accordance with regulatory standards, as evidenced by the minister’s recent visit to the company,” the statement highlighted.
It was noted that residents of Ibarapaland have been assured that with the compensation procedures progressing and equipment already in place, substantial progress on the transmission project will soon lead to improved power availability across the zone.
Adelabu pointed out that Oyo State has received considerable attention in the power sector under the current administration. He cited key completed and ongoing projects, including the construction and commissioning of 132/33kV mobile substations at Ajibode (University of Ibadan area) and Eleyele-Sango by FGN Power Company.
He also mentioned the upgrade of the Ayede Ring Road 330/133kV substation as part of the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI) in partnership with Siemens. Other projects include the approval and ongoing construction of new substations at New Asejire and Lalupon/Ejioku, and the approval of a 15MW solar interconnected grid for the University of Ibadan and the University College Hospital by the Rural Electrification Agency.
In light of these developments, the statement urged the Oyo State Government and the House of Assembly to actively support federal initiatives, as is being done by other states, to achieve sustainable improvements in electricity supply and boost economic growth.
Comments (0)
You must be logged in to comment.
Be the first to comment on this article!