The Minister of Power, Prof. Nebo Chinedu, has blamed the problems in the power sector to long neglect, and said that it would take time, money and the support of all Nigerians to fix.

Chinedu said this in an address at a one-day Power Sector Reform Technical Retreat organised by the Presidential Task Force on Power in Abuja, recently.

He warned the department in the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) overseeing the systems operation to fix the frequent power collapse.

“I have observed, with grave concern, the increasing frequency in system collapse of our grid and hereby encourage the operatives in this segment in the TCN to be extra diligent and vigilant.

“I shall not entertain frivolous reasons for continued system collapse. Owners of this process must sit up or be prepared to face the music.’’

Chinedu noted that without improvement in power supply, development in the private sector would be jeopardised.

He said that adequate power supply was the only option the country had to align with internationally acceptable standards, adding that improvement must be immediate.

Chinedu urged distribution companies to carry out their duties effectively, stressing that any officers found sabotaging the revenue collection targets would be severely dealt with.

According to him, government will not tolerate complacency and ineptitude of any company that builds up additional burdens of liabilities through misconduct.

Chinedu explained that the retreat was to review and revise the original roadmap developed in 2010, in order to produce data which would be consistent with current and future challenges.

Earlier, Mr Dagogo Jack, the Chairman, Presidential Task Force on Power, said the 2010 version of the roadmap was an effective guiding tool for power reform, but that it needed revalidation to incorporate current realities.

Mr Patrick Ikhariele, the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Power, said that constant power supply would ensure security of lives and property.