President Bola Tinubu is determined to resolve the lingering power supply shortfall, energy theft, estimated billing and stealing of power infrastructure, his Chief of Staff Femi Gbajabiamila said on Saturday.
Gbajabiamila noted the Tinubu-led administration is working assiduously with the relevant stakeholders to ensure that the challenges bedeviling the power sector is resolved within the shortest possible time frame.
The former Speaker of the House of Representatives gave this assurance while inaugurating two units of 20MVA Injection substation in his Surulere Constituency, Lagos, which were facilitated during his tenure as Speaker.
Gbajabiamila, who was represented by Senator Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun(Lagos Central), further pledged the president’s commitment to improved electricity supply nationwide.
“Mr President has made an allocation of over N340 billion in the 2024 budget towards improving infrastructure in the power sector. President Tinubu is also concerned about cases of energy theft, estimated billing and stealing of power infrastructure,” Gbajabiamila said.
While expressing delight at the project, the CoS assured that it would help to improve power supply to Surulere environs including: Akerele, Randle, Ishaga, Ogunlana, Shitta, and Adelabu.
He said when he briefed him, the President “was pleased about this public–private sector partnership between the Federal Government and Eko Distribution company. We owe this dividend of democracy to Mr. President.”
Expatiating, Gbajabiamila said: “The Tinubu administration has shown its dedication to solving the power supply challenges of Nigeria from the get-go with the signing of the 2023 Electricity Act just days into taking over the reins of power of our country.
“Stakeholders and professionals have been engaged to achieve our dream of attaining a 24/7, uninterrupted power supply in our nation.”
He described the commissioning as “a testament to the power of partnership and the tireless efforts of all stakeholders involved.”
He praised the collaboration with Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC), alongside other stakeholders, saying it had been pivotal to the project.
“We have demonstrated what can be achieved when public and private entities join forces with a shared purpose,” he said.
Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who was represented by the Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr. Biodun Ogunleye, commended Gbajabiamila and the private-public partnership that resulted in the project.
He pledged that “in less than two years there’ll be segments of this city that will say bye bye to darkness.”
He urged the people to “Pay your bills, don’t beat up staff, don’t bypass metres. Change is here and for that change to have an impact all of us must behave responsibly.”
