POWER SUPPLY TO IMPROVE IN 72 HOURS — MINISTER. (PHOTO).

Power supply to improve in 72 hours — Minister

The Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, has said electricity supply will begin to improve within 48 to 72 hours as the Federal Government works to address generation and transmission constraints responsible for recent outages in parts of the country.

Tegbe attributed the worsening electricity situation to planned maintenance at Egbin Power Station, Nigeria’s “largest” thermal power generating station in Lagos, which supplies about 16% of the total electricity on the national grid.

The minister disclosed this in a statement titled ‘Update on Power Situation’, posted on his Facebook page on Friday.

“I am aware of the strain that the current outages have placed on households and businesses in four affected states, including Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory.

“Planned maintenance at Egbin Power Station and constraints in gas supply to some thermal power stations have reduced the amount of electricity available on the national grid. Grid operators have, therefore, implemented load shedding in some areas to manage the shortfall,” he said.

Tegbe added that the sabotage of critical transmission lines had restricted the use of alternative routes to supply electricity to some locations, particularly Lagos.

He said his ministry was working with relevant operators to restore affected generating units in phases, improve gas supply and accelerate repairs to damaged infrastructure.

“My team and I are working to return the affected generating units to service in phases, with the first units coming back online within the next 48 to 72 hours.

“We are also working with operators to improve gas supply and accelerate repairs to the damaged infrastructure,” he added.

The minister’s assurance comes amid growing complaints from electricity consumers in Lagos and Ogun states over prolonged blackouts, which residents say have made the prevailing hot weather increasingly unbearable.