Mr Dairus Ishaku, the Minister of State for Power, has directed that the transformers and power equipment in PHCN central stores in Lagos be distributed to communities whose transformers have been damaged.
A statement signed by Mrs Patricia Deworitshe, an assistant director (Press) in the Ministry, said Ishaku gave the directive when he paid an unscheduled visit to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) on Monday in Lagos.
The statement said the minister instructed PHCN to distribute all the 33/11kv transformers, oils, and other power equipment at the PHCN central stores in Shogunle,?to communities across the country within two weeks.
“The minister was surprised that more than 2,000 transformers and other accessories for the transmission and distribution of power were lying waste in the stores, while consumers were complaining of damaged transformers.
“The minister also visited the Ikorodu Port of the Nigeria Customs and Excise to take inventory of all the power equipment which had been there since 2004,’’ it said.
The statement said Ishaku received a list of the equipment from Mr?Abdullahi Dikko, the ?Comptroller General of Customs and Exercise, who was represented by Mr Dan Ogu, the Comptroller of the Port.
The statement said the minister expressed gratitude to the customs for protecting the equipment from vandals, and gave assurance that they would be distributed to successor companies of PHCN.
“Ishaku explained that government would setup a distribution committee on Tuesday to identify areas of needs to enable each company to take delivery of the available accessories.
“He said government was anxious to see a quantum leap in power supply to?Nigerians and directed all Chief Executive Officers of PHCN in charge of?Transmission, Generation, and Distribution, to pick up their respective allocations from the port before the end of October,’’ it said.
The statement said that Ishaku was accompanied on the visit by some dignitaries, including Dr Dere Awosika, the permanent secretary in the ministry. (NAN)