Nigeria, July 12, 2016 – The love of shrines (home of local deities) has been identified as a major hindrance in the completion of power transmission lines and other projects in the South East, stakeholders in the power sector have said.
The stakeholders made the observation at its 7th monthly meeting in Benin, Edo State which had in attendant, Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.
They ascribed the delay in “the completion of the critical Calabar – Ikot-Ekpene transmission line and other projects in the South East to unresolved local community issues especially in Itu Local Government because of shrines”, adding that the issue are being aggressively addressed by the Niger Delta Power Holding Community (NDPHC).
Participants also acknowledged efforts of the hosts, Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), in making improvements to their network, including connecting previously disconnected areas, additional 472km of lines strung, as well as metering of more than 100,000 households.
The need for the Distribution Companies (DisCos) to intensify efforts to complete DisCo financed metering while winding down Credited Advance Payment for Metering Initiative (CAPMI) in which customers pay for meters was emphasised.
“This is to ensure that customers do not unnecessarily bear the cost of installing meters. The meeting also notedthat consumers need to be protected from estimated billing, through DisCos completing metering according to their plans.
Also speaking, Minister for Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola said Government has concluded plans to sign agreement with about 12 companies to provide solar power for Nigeria.
He said the project will inject 1000 MW of solar power into the system.
“The formal agreements will be signed shortly”, he said, noting that the Azura power plant construction is on schedule and that it will add 450MW to the national grid when completed.
