The Minister of Power, Engr. Abubakar Aliyu has urged the state governments to remove right of way barriers to enable the Federal government to strengthen and expand the collapsed NationaI power grid.
Engr. Aliyu, made the submission on Thursday during the Council’s 124th meeting while giving an update on the power crisis across the country.
The meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, had State Governors, Federal Ministers and other senior government officials in attendance.
NEC is composed of all 36 Governors, the Central Bank Governor and the Minister of Federal Capital Territory and other designated members of the Federal Executive Council.
According to the Minister, the Federal Government wants affected States to remove Right of Way barriers in order to fast-track the expansion and strengthening of the National power grid.
“This way, some of the recent disruptions to electric power supply in the country could be avoided.” The statement reads.
“Aliyu said the projects account for an investment of $137 million that the Nigerian public is unable to realise value from due to these intractable issues”. Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande in a statement made available to The Network, said.
According to the statement, the Minister of Power stressed the need for urgent attention on the issue of State Government’s approval on the Right of Way (ROW), which he stated has hampered billions of Naira worth transmission projects that are meant to strengthen and expand the grid for better supply of electricity in the country.
He stated that most of these projects were delayed because of gaps in the implementation of the Right of Way resolution that State Governments are responsible for.
He said that there are currently 32 projects across States that are stalled or have been unable to begin post-approval.
