Tag: Transmission Company of Nigeria

Electricity Workers Picket Ministry, Demand Sack Of TCN MD

Members of Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC) on Tuesday blocked the entrance of the Ministry of Power and Abuja headquarters of Transmission Company Of Nigeria (TCN), in protest.

The workers are protesting over alleged non-implementation of agreements reached with its union and are calling for the sack of the Managing Director of the TCN, Usman Mohammed.

The workers also accused Mohammed of taking sides with the government.

The protest started when the workers sealed up all entrances to the TCN building, which also hosts the Federal Ministry of Power Works and Housing, leaving workers unable to gain access into their offices.

The protesting workers are also demanding the immediate implementation of the reviewed 2016 salary structure and promotion of members who are due to be promoted.

See Photos Below…

FEC Approves Funds To Boost Power, Agriculture Efficiency

FECThe Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved 701 billion Naira payment assurance for power generating companies in Nigeria.

The fund, kept by the Central Bank of Nigeria, is to enhance evacuation of power by the Transmission Company of Nigeria to the various power distribution companies in the country without wastage.

The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, briefed State House correspondents on the approval after the FEC meeting presided over by the Acting President, Professor Yemi Osibabjo.

He said the guarantee is an instrument meant to resolve liquidity problems encountered by the power generating companies in payments to gas suppliers.

Also approved by FEC was the sum of 263 million Naira for the growing of gum arabic seedlings in the country.

The Minister of Agriculture, Audu Ogbeh, said the fund was approved to strengthen the capacity of Nigeria in producing the gum, as the country ranks second in the world behind Sudan.

He said $43 million was earned from the export of gum arabic in 2016, and that 17 states are involved in the gum’s cultivation across Nigeria.

Mr Ogbeh added that the FEC also approved the distribution of improved cassava stems to farmers in the southern part of the country.

The cassava stems, to be provided by the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture, are to improve Nigeria’s cultivation of cassava which is a primary source of ethanol and industrial starch production.

Transmission Company To Complete 11 Power Plants In 2017

Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, PowerThe Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) says it will complete 11 transmission projects to boost power supply in the country by the end of 2017.

The Managing Director of TCN, Mr Abubakar Atiku, made the disclosure on Wednesday in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

Mr Atiku expressed hope that the completion of the projects would increase electricity generation from 6,500 megawatts to 7,400 megawatts by the end of the year.

He noted that the transmission sites in Afam, Daura, Ede Osogbo and some other power projects in Nigeria’s northern region would completed.

The TCN boss added that the completed projects would ensure steady gas and power supply to serve the nation’s growing energy needs.

PHED Accuses Oyigbo Youths Of Throwing Port Harcourt Into Darkness

Oyigbo Youths, Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company, PHEDThe Port Harcourt metropolis was on Monday morning thrown into unwarranted darkness by fierce looking youths from Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State.

According to the spokesman for the Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED), Mr John Onyi, the incident occurred when a Federal Government facility under the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) located inside Afam was forcefully shut and barricaded by the youths.

Mr Onyi noted in a statement that not only was the station shut down, but the technical men on duty were also chased away, leading to their inability to transmit power to PHED for onward distribution to its customers.

“On check, it was gathered that one of the highly politically exposed persons who resides within the area was responsible for the youths’ action on the ground that his feeder was placed on load shedding.

“The parochial action of the youth is becoming habitual and very embarrassing. Recall that late last year on two occasions, the same youths from Oyigbo blocked the source of supply to Port Harcourt metropolis.

“The action of the youth if unabated will continue to plunge Port Harcourt city into unnecessary darkness.

“The Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company (PHED) condemns in its entirety, taking laws into hand – posture of the youth – and hereby, draws the attention of the law enforcement agencies in particular and the Rivers State Government to come to the aid of PHED and the good people of the state to intervene and put a final stop to this frequent disruption of power distribution to customers,” the statement read.

Fashola Urges Nigerians To Protect Power Equipment

FasholaThe Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has identified major factors preventing Nigerians from enjoying uninterrupted and regular power supply.

Vandalising power supply equipment across the nation, creating stumbling blocks in the way of power lines, blowing up of gas pipelines as well as litigations in courts over power projects are some issues the Minister listed.

Mr Fashola made the observation after inspecting the distribution sub power station in Pankshin, Plateau State, where equipment at the substation have been vandalised by hoodlums.

The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing led by the Minister and accompanied by officials of the ministry have been going round the nation on verification and inspection in order to take stock of the situation of Nigerian roads and the various power projects across the country.

The Minister had earlier been conducted round the ongoing construction of an overhead bridge along Yakubu Gowon Way before proceeding to the sub power distribution station where the act of vandalism has slowed down the pace of work and thus affected distribution of power.

The Minister appealed to Nigerians to guard power installations in order to have regular and adequate power supply.

While on a courtesy visit to the Plateau State Governor, the Minister equally warned Nigerians to desist from wasting the available energy with an advice that energy should be preserved especially during the day.

As the Minister and his entourage continue the tour and monitoring of facilities under the ministry, it is expected that the findings and subsequent recommendations would eventually translate to adequate power supply as well as good and safe highways.

Senate To Investigate Manitoba/TCN Deal

Senate-TCNThe Senate is to investigate the circumstances surrounding the preparation, execution and implementation of the management services contract for the Transmission Company of Nigeria.

The Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE) transferred the management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to the Hydro International Nigeria Limited, also called Manitoba.

A Federal lawmaker, Senator Mohammed Hassan, alleged that the management services contract prepared by the BPE for the management of TCN by Manitoba is fraught with illegalities and total violation of the laws of the country.

Senator Hassan also claimed that Manitoba does not pay taxes on the monies it receives under the management services contract.

Fashola Inspects Power Station, Road Projects In Benue

FasholaThe Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has begun an inspection of ongoing projects across the country with a view to ensuring budgetary provision for them in the coming year.

Mr Fashola told journalists in Makurdi that he was inspecting the Apir power plant of the Transmission Company of Nigeria along with officials of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing, in order to ascertain its level of operation in the state.

After inspecting the control room of the power plant, he said that the federal government would give priority attention to the project in the 2017 budget.

The delegation also visited the State Governor, Mr Samuel Ortom, where the Otukpo-Enugu highway was one of the issues discussed

The Minister was expected to also inspect the Makurdi-Lafia federal highway as the team leaves for Nasarawa State to round off his trip to the north central states.

 

Ambode Inaugurates Committee To Boost Power Supply

ambodeLagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, on Thursday inaugurated a committee to boost household and business power supply.

He also charged them to work assiduously to create an enabling environment that will ensure 24-hour power supply to residents in the state.

The Governor, speaking at the Lagos House, Ikeja, during the inauguration, said that the issue of power challenge must be addressed, in order to achieve sustainable economic growth and development in Nigeria and Lagos State in particular.

Governor Ambode said that in view of the importance of the Lagos economy to the nation and the concerns that have been expressed particularly by the business community, his administration has considered it expedient to constitute an advisory committee on power.

He added that no state in the federation is more affected by the state of the power sector than Lagos.

A statement made available by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Habib Haruna, Governor Ambode added that Lagos State accounts for over 60 per cent of the industrial and commercial activities in Nigeria.

The governor emphasised that the energy requirement for the state is estimated at about 5,000 Mega Watts, of which only about 1000 Mega Watts is currently being supplied; hence the need to inaugurate a committee that would ensure the power need of the people is met.

He said members of the Committee consist of representatives from the State Government and industry experts from the private sector, urging them to provide a sustainable guide in the development of a road map for reliable power supply in the state, foster collaboration and develop a congress or platform for all major power stakeholders in the state and the private sector.

Members of the Committee include the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Mrs Oluranti Adebule, the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Wale Oluwo, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Adeniji Kazeem and the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde.

Other members of the committee include representatives of Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company, Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Transmission Company of Nigeria, Gaslink Nigeria Limited, Falcon Corporation Limited and Egbin Power Plc.

Governor Ambode, shortly after the inauguration tasked the committee to make electricity available to Lagos residents for both business and domestic use, just as he expressed confidence that they would not disappoint.

The Governor also hinted that in order to underscore his administration’s commitment to security of lives and property, his administration has embarked on an aggressive programme of lighting up Lagos.

He explained that major highways and streets are being connected from point to point, using Independent Power Projects (IPPs) and other means effectively.

He also encouraged individuals, private homes and corporate organizations to take up streets or roads of their choice and light them up with connections to their meters and generators, assuring that the state government will reciprocate the gesture by giving concessions to them in the payment of their annual Land Use Charges.

TCN Assures Of 10,000 Megawatts Of Electricity

The Board Chairman of the Transmission Company of Nigeria, Mr Ibrahim Waziri, has said that plans are underway for the transmission of 10,000 megawatts of electricity to Nigerians by 2017.

Speaking at a news conference in Abuja, Mr Waziri said that the T.C.N plans to achieve the feat through it’s over 160 projects spread across the country.

He also disclosed that despite the huge success recorded in ensuring adequate power supply to Nigerians, the agency still faces challenges of vandalism and theft of infrastructure.

 

 

Nebo Declares Zero Tolerance For Power Saboteurs

The New Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo has declared zero tolerance for sabotuers of the power sector reform.

The minister has stated that government will not hesitate to deal with anyone who plans to destabilize the smooth transition in the power sector in line with the on-going privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

He gave the warning at a technical session of the presidential task force on power in Abuja which had government officials and industry experts in attendance.

Here, the work of the task force will be x-rayed and assessed by the experts.

Professor Nebo expressed his belief that decades of neglect is responsible for the rot in the power sector and stated that it will soon be a thing of the past.

However, analysts worry that it may take a lot more than words of caution to stop sabotage in the sector starting with the uncertainties trailing the management contract of the Transmission Company of Nigeria by Canadian firm Manitoba Hydro.

Critics and analysts have commented that the TCN /Manitoba issue seems to have become a game of to be or not to be which the Federal Government insists will be sorted in the nearest future.

Professor Nebo has also pointed out that any official in the power distribution companies found to be sabotaging the revenue collection targets of the market  will be made to face the full wrath of the law as government will not tolerate complacency and ineptitude of these companies.

 

Power generation peaks at 4,500 Megawatts

The Minister of State for Power, Hajiya Zainab Kuchi has claimed that the nation’s power generation has peaked to 4,500 Megawatts.

She said this is in line with the target of generating over 5,000 MWs of electricity by the end of the year.

According to her, the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) has been giving daily updates of power generation since the beginning of the week and the data has steadily climbed from 4,374MWs to 4,349MWs and now 4,500MWs she stated.

The Minister confirmed to our correspondent, Doris Okenwa, in an interview that the deregulation of the power sector will be completed next year and more opportunities for improved service delivery will be unlocked.

 

Manitoba completes take over of transmission company

Canadian company Manitoba Hydro International has signed an agreement with the Bureau of Public Enterprise for the management of  Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) today (Monday 23 July, 2012).

The company will start management of the company on Monday, July 30.      

 Director General of the Bureau for Public Enterprise, Bolanle Onagoruwa said one of the key objectives of the agreement is to stabilize the national grid and reduce electricity losses during transmission.

TCN is one of the successor companies created from the unbundling of the power holding company of Nigeria and will now be managed by manitoba hydro for three years at a cost of 23 million dollars.

While electricity generation and distribution will be fully privatized, government remains in charge of transmission though it will be managed by the private sector for improved output.The move to privatize the TCN has however has been opposed by electricity workers who are worried about their job security and severance package.

To quell the fears of the workers, Minister of Power, Barth Nnaji said the Canadian company is resuming with only eight of its staff with Nigerian workers expected to understudy their operations

Manitoba, whose financial bid for the management of TCN was opened on April 3, had emerged the sole bidder after the second firm in the race, Power Grid of India, failed to meet the technical requirement.