From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna
Kaduna state governor, Alhaji Muktar Ramalan Yero has said Nigeria cannot attain any significant developmental strides unless there is massive approach to improve the power supply in the country.
He made the assertion when the Senate Committee on Power, led by the Chairman, Senator Philips Aduda, paid him a courtesy visit at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim Government House at the weekend.
Governor Yero said the major causes of collapsed industries in Nigeria today is as a result of power outage. According to him, when industries and entrepreneurs are forced to operate on alternative power, they may not survive for long time because of the high cost of diesels and generators.
“Today, many companies cannot sustain their cost of production because of power shortage and the only option left for them is to close down the business and that is the genesis of unemployment in the country, which is now a monster that is threatening our security and well-being.
“However, we, in Kaduna state are grateful to the Vice-President, Architect Mohammed Namadi Sambo, for his initiative to construct the Kudandan power project, which when completed is expected to restore life into the moribund industries and companies in the state and even outside the state,” Governor Yero said.
Speaking earlier at the corporate headquarters of the Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company (KEDC), the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company, Malam Idris Mohammed said there is no gain-saying that Kaduna state has enjoyed increased power supply despite all odds.
He informed the committee that through a new and aggressive marketing strategy, KEDC has improved its revenue collection to 1billion naira.
“We know it is not yet an Uhuru for us, because customers are still owing us more than N9billion in arrears. It is also painful to note that 65% of electric consumers in the state are illegal consumers and we are working hard to see that people pay for services they consume,” Malam Mohammed stated.
Among the projects inspected include the 215MW Kaduna Power plant at Kudandan, the 15KV injection sub-station along independence way, 33KV in Narayi, 7.5KV injection sub-station in Gonin-Gora and 7.5MVA Jaji injection sub-station, among others.
