Power
THE Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, has reduced electricity supply to the Aba Ring-fenced Area that compromises nine of the 17 local government areas in Abia State by more than 50%.
According to sources close to Aba Power, which serves the nine LGAs, but who requested anonymity said that the reduction started last week, with supplies dropping from 25 Megawatts to 10mw without any official explanation or apology.
The Aba Power Managing Director, Patrick Umeh, confirmed the drastic reduction in a brief telephone conversation with journalists on Tuesday, but declined further comment because “I am in Lagos right now attending a critical meeting of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC”, where he once served as the Commissioner for Market Rates, Market and Competition.
Aba, Nigeria’s centre of indigenous technology and local manufacturing, needs 100mw to achieve electricity stability, according to Adolphus Udeigbo, President General of the 22,00O-member Aba Landlords Protection and Development Association, ALPADA.
“We have been complaining bitterly that the 25mw from the NDPHC is grossly inadequate, only to have it cut further at a time of acute heat and unprecedented economic crisis,” the ALPADA leader said.
“It’s so painful that Aba people couldn’t watch some of the matches of the just concluded Africa Cup of Nations in Cote d’Ivoire because of the meagre supplies,” he said.
He described the significant cut as shocking because the Geometric Power group, which owns Aba Power, “has just paid N500m to one of the Federal Government’s agencies for supplies”.
Bob Chukwueke, an Aba-based legal consultant, told journalists on Tuesday that “This is why we can’t wait for the 181mw Geometric Power plant at the Osisioma Industrial Layout in Aba to get commissioned so that we will be freed from the embarrassing performance of the nation’s electricity networks.”
There are unconfirmed reports that the Geometric Power plant may be commissioned before the end of this month.
14th February, 2024.
C.E.
Tags: Patrick Umeh TCN Transmission Company of Nigeria
