•Blackout
More than 20 communities in the Federal Capital Territory have been hit with power outages as Christians all over the world celebrate Easter.
The federal government declared Friday and today as public holidays to celebrate the season, reports Channels TV.
A Sunday statement by the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) attributed the cause of the outages to a technical fault and explosion on some feeders.
The areas affected include Keffi Garage, Bank Road, Angwan Rama, Tsohon Kasuwa, CRDP, Makwala, Low-cost, Dadin Kowa, Angwan Ninzo, Tudun Amama, Angwan Kwano, Angwan Tsarin Mada, Gunduma, Gitata, Gangaren Tudun, Angwan Wake, and the surrounding environs.
The outage is due to an explosion on the 11kv incomer CT, which the DisCo said impacted the feeders supplying these locations.
In addition, customers in Pyegl, Kurudu, Gidan Mango, Orozo, Karshi, and neighbouring communities are currently experiencing power outages due to a technical fault.
The power distribution firm, however, said its technical teams are working diligently to resolve both issues and restore supply as quickly as possible.
The development comes as the Power Minister, Adebayo Adelabu, said the federal government was working to boost Nigeria’s grid capacity by an additional 4,000 megawatts (MW) by the end of 2026.
The country currently generates about 5000 MW for its over 200 million population. Experts have said the country needs at least 30,000mw MW to reach sufficiency.
A statement by Bolaji Tunji, Special Adviser on Strategic Communications and Media Relations to the minister, disclosed that the FG has engaged reputable Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) companies to expedite the process under a new strategic direction approved by President Bola Tinubu.
He said the president approved the distribution scope to be delivered by other reputable engineering procurement and construction (EPC) companies with the requisite technical, financial, and financing capacity.
“The strategic decisions aim to increase grid capacity by an additional 4,000mw by the end of 2026, with an aspirational target of an additional 2,000mw, as directed by the Economic Management Team in 2024.
“Noteworthy is the fact that the implementation of the PPI commenced with the installation and inauguration of 10 power transformers and 10 mobile substations across the country under the Pilot Phase of the PPI, which was manufactured and delivered in October 2023.”
Adelabu noted that the current administration’s commitment has not only reinvigorated the Siemens Power Project, officially known as the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI), but also created a pathway for improved power supply to key sectors of the Nigerian economy.
“The inception of the present administration in 2023 brought about renewed vigour to the Siemens Power Project as an accelerated contract was signed to ensure visible progress in the project,” Adelabu said.
He emphasised that “no significant progress was made on the project until the present administration came into office,” adding that the achievements recorded since May 29, 2023, are testaments to a focused and determined government agenda.
“There is no doubt that the Siemens project has witnessed significant improvements since the inauguration of this administration,” Tunji added.
