BY HENRY UMORU
ABUJA—The Federal Government yesterday said it has begun the test running of three key National Integrated Power Projects, NIPPs, located in Alaoje, Olorunsogo and Sapele in readiness for the commencement of full operation by June this year.

Addressing newsmen after the weekly Federal Executive, FEC, meeting, presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Mr Nuhu Wya, Minister of State for Power, said the planned inauguration of the NIPPs projects will help boost power generation and distribution in the country.

He stated:  “We have very high hopes when we are doing this very important aspect of power delivery to Nigerians, which is anchored through the NIPP, are beginning to yield fruits. Alaoje power plant, some of the units are being test-fired.

“Olorunsogo power plant, some of the units are being test-fired as I’m talking to you right now. Sapele power plant, another brand new NIPP, some of the units are being test-fired right now.

“So, the corner stone for the power delivery is this first quarter of this year. When these NIPPs’ brand new generation facilities come to play, then we will see remarkable development in terms of improved capacity of power delivery.”

According to him, the government is not only addressing one section of the power problem but also taking a holistic approach of the issue.

The minister added that it was not just generation but transmission and distributions that were also being addressed.
“We are today enjoying better management of the power sector. When you say power delivery, you are not talking on mega watts, whether its 6,000 or 10,000, but how long you continue to see light shining, how long the services continue to be delivered to your homes and businesses.

“That we have tried to sustain and manage whatever we have in terms of rehabilitation of existing facilities and at the same time expanding and getting in new facilities,” he said.

To bridge the transmission  network gap, Wya said “transmission is supposed to be a close circuit so that power can flow from either direction. There is a major brake between Enugu and Jos, that one is being addressed through a 330 KVA transmission line between Enugu New Heaven through Makurdi to Jos.

“That project is being fast-tracked under NIPP and when that is done, we seize to have these system collapses whereby. When power is travelling and it hits obstacle, now when that loop is down if it doesn’t flow to the other side it flows to the other side.”

The minister maintained that with this multidimensional approach “there will be less of system collapses and we will begin to enjoy steady power supply in Nigeria.

So indeed there is no stopping of power development in Nigeria just like there is no stopping of new investments and population growth in Nigeria”.