The federal government on Friday apologised to Nigerians for the poor energy situation the nation has been witnessing over the past few weeks.
In an announcement made accessible to our correspondent in Abuja, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, blamed the situation on fuel scarcity, vandalism, and sabotage.
He additionally stated that all efforts had been made to rectify the situation and guarantee a gradual enhancement in the energy situation.
The minister stated that the routine upkeep by the Nigeria Gas Company had affected the availability of fuel to energy stations, forcing down the energy supply from an all-time high of 5,074 MW to about 4,000MW.
He added {that a} mixture of unsavoury incidents additionally crashed the ability provide to about half that determine.
Mohammed stated, “There will be a decent improvement in the power situation from this weekend, thanks to ongoing remedial efforts that will double the current power supply to 4,000WM. Getting back to the 5,074MW all-time high that was reached earlier will take a few more weeks.
‘’The vandalism of the Forcados export pipelines forced oil companies to shut down, making it impossible for them to produce gas. Then, workers at the Ikeja Discos, protesting the disengagement of some of their colleagues after they failed the company’s competency test, apparently colluded with the National Transmission Station in Osogbo to shut down transmission.
‘’Finally, the unfortunate strike by the unions at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation over the restructuring of the corporation, shut down the Itarogun Power Station, the biggest in the country.
“Due to these factors, only 13 of the 24 power stations in the country are currently functioning. It is this same kind of unsavoury situation that has affected fuel supply and subjected Nigerians to untold hardship.”
The minister condemned the state of affairs during which some Nigerians, under the guise of the assorted unions within the oil and fuel sector, would repeatedly sabotage the nation’s energy infrastructure.
He stated, ’The bitter fact is that for so long as these teams of Nigerians proceed to sabotage the ability of infrastructure, Nigerians can not enjoy an honest stage of energy supply.
“We, therefore, admonish all Nigerians who may be agitating for their rights in whatever form to refrain from any action that will further hurt the same people they claim to be protecting.”
This government is never a serious one, only full öf propaganda and Shifting of Blames. Almost nine month in the saddle, but NOTHING tangible to show for it, except Shifting od Blames. I pray Nigerians are enlightened and wise, thereby election political office holders not on propaganda.