The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has appealed to the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to improve the supply of electricity to the Federal Capital City.
Malam Bello, who made this plea when he received the NERC Chairman, Professor James Momoh in his office, said that electricity supply is a major challenge in FCT because of the many roads and streets requiring streets lights and the poor allocation of power from the suppliers.
He suggested that company could dedicate mini grids to power strategic roads and facilities, adding that it is critical that FCT has first class power supply system.
The Minister said however, that there has been significant progress in power generation and supply, nationwide, since the onset of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.
“No doubt about it, there is substantial improvement in power, which is a reflection of government policy, government direction and the drive of the Discos, Gencos and Transcos regulator”.
He said that FCT has been recording over nine percent population growth rate annually and that there is need to match infrastructure development with growth.
The minister regretted that funding is a challenge even as hhe recalled that before the unbundling and subsequent privatization of power industry, FCT had made substantial investment in power infrastructure which necessitated discussions on how investments done in the past could be refunded.
