Minister Orders Distribution Of Transformers To Communities

The Minister of State for Power, Mr Dairus Ishaku, has directed
that the transformers and power equipment in PHCN central stores in Lagos be
distributed to communities whose transformers have been damaged.

A statement signed by Mrs Patricia Deworitshe, an assistant
director (Press) in the Ministry, said Ishaku gave the directive when he paid
an unscheduled visit to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN)
recently  in Lagos.

The statement said the minister instructed PHCN to distribute all the 33/11kv transformers, oils, and other power equipment at the PHCN central stores in Shogunle, to communities across the country within two weeks.

“The minister was surprised that more than 2,000
transformers and other accessories for the transmission and distribution of
power were lying waste in the stores, while consumers were complaining of
damaged transformers.

“The minister also visited the Ikorodu Port of the Nigeria
Customs and Excise to take inventory of all the power equipment which had been
there since 2004,’’ it said.

The statement said Ishaku received a list of the equipment
from Mr Abdullahi Dikko, the Comptroller General of Customs and Exercise, who
was represented by Mr Dan Ogu, the Comptroller of the Port.

The statement said the minister expressed gratitude to the
customs for protecting the equipment from vandals, and gave assurance that they
would be distributed to successor companies of PHCN.

“Ishaku explained that government would setup a distribution
committee on Tuesday to identify areas of needs to enable each company to take
delivery of the available accessories.

“He said government was anxious to see a quantum leap in
power supply to Nigerians and directed all Chief Executive Officers of PHCN in
charge of Transmission, Generation, and Distribution, to pick up their
respective allocations from the port before the end of October,’’ it said.