Minister uncovers 2000 hoarded PHCN transformers

 

The Federal Government said on Tuesday said that it had discovered more than 2000 transformers being hoarded by officials of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria.

Minister of State for Power, Mr. Darius Ishaku, discovered the hoarded transformers and other power equipment during a recent visit to the PHCN Central Stores at Shogunle, Lagos, according to a statement made available to our correspondent by the ministry’s Assistant Director, Press, Patricia Deworitshe.

Ishaku, subsequently, gave a directive that all 33/11kv transformers, transformers panels, oils and other power equipment should be allocated to every part of the country that needed them within the next two weeks.

The minister expressed shock that over 2000 transformers and other accessories needed for effective transmission and distribution of power to Nigerians were lying idle while consumers were complaining of damaged transformers.

He also expressed the hope that communities affected by power supply due to damaged transformers would soon heave a sigh of relief with the directive that the transformers should be distributed.

At the Ikorodu Port of the Nigeria Customs Service, the minister, who was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Dr. Dere Awosika, received inventory of all the power equipment that had been at the agency’s custody since 2004.

He also took delivery of the equipment from the comptroller of the port, Mr. Dan Ogu, who represented the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Mr. Abdulahhi Dikko, and thanked the Customs for protecting the equipment from vandals over the years.

He assured electricity consumers that the equipment would boost power supply in the country. He said the equipment would be distributed to all successor transmission, generation and distribution companies of PHCN, according to their requirements