N335bn needed to keep power sector alive – Minister

He also expressed dismay at the neglect in the sector, saying services of no fewer than 8,000 engineers would be required to make the sector functional.

He further painted a gloomy picture about the sector, as he disclosed that not one engineer had been recruited in the last 16 years.

The minister disclosed these on Tuesday while speaking at a meeting with the Senator Phillip Aduda-led Senate Committee on Power.

Nebo, who lamented the decay in the sector, said most of the equipment available were old, adding there was also a problem of acute shortage of able-bodied manpower.

He said something urgent needed to be done to safe the sector from an imminent total collapse, adding, “what is beng done currently is mere patching.”

He cited the example of Ughelli, in Delta State, which he said was formerly generating 400 megawatts, but had dropped to a mere 120 megawatts.

“The same neglect is happening in the human resources. For 16 years, there has not been a single hiring of engineers needed to handle the aging equipment.

“There is the need to beef up the entire system. Something should be done. In the whole of the South East, as represented by Enugu, not about 50 able-bodied men can climb the poles,” he said.

He, however, said there had been an improvement in power generation in the country, noting that the sector was barely generating 2,000 megawatts before the advent of the President Goodluck Jonathan-led administration.

He also said there would be further improvement in power supply, with the ongoing NIPP and sub-stations projects in Anambra State.

He appealed to the Senate to strengthen the sector to avoid further drops in power distribution, adding that what was operational now can only guarantee 5,500 megawatts.

“If international donor agencies see that reputable companies are investing in the power sector, they would be encouraged to put their money in the transmission and distribution of power,” he said.

Senator Aduda assured that the Senate would do everything possible, even at the presidency, to ensure that money was available in order to keep the power transmission companies alive.