Lagos To Enjoy 24hrs Electricity Supply

Minister of Power, Prof Barth Nnaji yesterday said the Federal Government has ordered 24 hours supply of electricity to Lagos State given the economic position it occupies in Nigeria.

Nnaji was speaking yesterday at the commissioning of a new gymnasium at the Egbin Power Plant in Ikorodu.

He said: “We have resolved that Lagos will be getting more power round the clock, except if there is a hitch to supply. I think much attention should be given to the latest power supply rather than the number of generation. This a great achievement on the part of the government.”

The minister further announced that supply of electricity in the country has improved by over 40 percent since President Goodluck Jonathan came on board.

According to him, the development was a manifestation that the incumbent administration gives priority to improved power supply, especially in its drive to boost industrialization.

The minister said current power generation in Nigeria is now 4300mw.

He spoke on the recently concluded biometric verification exercise in the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and said it was the best thing the government could do to arrest the spiraling rate of ghost workers in the company.

According to him, the chief executive officers of distribution companies of the PHCN would meet in Abuja by the end of the month to identify and capture those who were left out in the last biometric exercise.

He expressed optimism that the ongoing negotiation between the Federal Government and electricity workers over their severance package would produce a beneficial outcome.

The minister also assured electricity workers of improved welfare condition, stressing that the recent 50 percent pay rise for them was a demonstration that the government matches its word with action.

According to him, the commissioning of the gymnasium underscores the need for workers to maintain mental and physical fitness with a view to optimally discharging their duties.