The Senate Committee on Power and Steel development has expressed displeasure over the slow pace of work on the 215KVA Kudenda Power Plant and other independent power projects in Kaduna State.

According to the committee, failure to complete the projects contributes to irregular and poor electricity supply being experienced in most parts of the North-West zone.

The Chairman of the committee, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, during an oversight visit to the project sites, faulted the uncertainty surrounding the completion of the power projects.

Senator Abaribe called for concerted efforts to be made to ensure that erratic power supply across the country is resolved.

There are 18 national integrated power projects in Kaduna State, with only seven of the projects fully completed while others are at various stages of completion.

The Senate committee visited power station sites at Gonin Gora, Narayi, Airforce Base and also the 215 Kaduna Power Plant at Kundenda.

During the visit, the contractor informed the committee that vital equipment meant for the completion of the 215MW plant have been rotting away at the Onne Port in Rivers State, since early 2015.

He said the development stalled the completion of the project, which had initially been scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2016.

As a result of the setback encountered, the contractor said the project, for which a contract was awarded in November 2009, would be completed in the second quarter of 2018.

The committee members also visited the Nigerian Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA) where they called for an end to arbitrary estimated electricity billing.

According to the committee, estimated billing is not in the best interest of Nigerians.

The General Manager of NEMSA told the committee that the major hurdle is in ensuring that all metres being deployed to customers are certified.