By Victor Ahiuma-Young
LAGOS — SHORTAGE of gas to power the 1320 Egbin Thermal Power Station and others including the collapse of Shiroro Power plant have thrown the nation into darkness for the past five days.

This came even as the organised Labour alleged that the shortage of gas was a ploy by government to ensure total blackout across the country to hasten planned privatisation of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.

According to source, Shiroro Power Station which produces 600 megawatts is today producing only 100 megawatts because of failed plants. Report indicated that only one plant in on stream.

Investigations revealed that most of the hydro power stations are down because of shortage of water said to be associated to the dry season.
Most part of the country since the last five days has been experiencing total blackout.

Many workers of PHCN who spoke to Vanguard, lamented that this situation had made them public enemy despite the fact that the matter has nothing to do with them.

Speaking, General Secretary of the National Union of Electricity Employees, NUEE, Comrade Joe Ajaero, alleged that the government deliberately refused to supply gas to Egbin and other plants that are powered by gas and provide materials to repair failed power plants as part of the grand design to cripple the sector and sell it as scrap.

NUEE alleges sabotage

According to him, “this is part of government agenda to cripple the power industry to sell it as scrap. The whole thing is designed to engineer blackout and win public sympathy for the planned privatisation of PHCN.

“How can government refused to supply gas to power Egbin and other power stations that use gas. Shiroro that supplies 600 megawatts  is presently supplying only 100 megawatts because just one plant is working. Government has refused to provide materials for its repairs.

Power c’ttee reacts

But in a swift reaction to labour’s allegation, Chairman, Communications Committee, Presidential Task Force on Power, Dr. Abimbola Agboluaje, dismissed labour’s claims, saying “everyone knows that the electric power system is suffering from decades of under investment and mismanagement which makes it vulnerable to occasional collapse.

“The allegation is utter nonsense. It won’t make sense to Nigerians. Everyone knows that the electric power system is suffering from decades of under investment and mismanagement which makes it vulnerable to occasional collapse.

“Many places in Nigeria don’t have light for months due to one fault or the other.  We all know this is what we get from the inadequate system. You don’t have to make it perform any worse to make a case for getting investment and better management into the system. That is how the telecommunications problem was solved. It is really a no brainer.”