The Ondo State Commissioner for Energy and Mineral Resources, Johnson Alabi, has explained that the worsening electricity supply in Akure and other parts of the state is a direct consequence of low national power generation and repeated grid failures, resulting in electricity being prioritised for Band A consumers.
Alabi spoke with Roving Reporters in Akure on Friday while reacting to the latest collapse of the National Power Grid, which plunged large parts of Nigeria into darkness after power generation reportedly crashed from over 4,500 megawatts to as low as 24 megawatts, leaving all electricity distribution companies without allocation.
According to the commissioner, the current electricity challenge in Ondo State is not primarily a distribution problem but one rooted in poor generation at the national level.
“The problem has to do with low generation from the generation companies. When generation drops, allocation drops,” he said.
He explained that the Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC), which supplies Ondo and three other states, receives only about nine per cent of national power allocation.
“When total national generation drops to about 2,000 megawatts, nine per cent of that is less than 10 megawatts. That is what is coming to the states under BEDC,” Alabi noted.
Because of the extremely limited power available, the commissioner said the little electricity supplied is channelled mainly to Band A feeders, whose customers are mandated to receive close to 24-hour supply and are charged higher tariffs.
“The little power that comes is put on Band A because Band A customers are expected to enjoy 24 hours and they are the ones paying for it. The rest is spread very thinly just for others to have minimal access,” he explained.
Alabi attributed the low national generation to a combination of declining hydropower output and gas supply shortages, describing the situation as a challenge largely beyond the control of state governments.
“Hydropower is going down and gas supply is also a major issue. These are federal issues,” he said.
He, however, expressed optimism that the situation would improve soon, adding that discussions at the federal level could lead to a resolution before the end of February.
“We are hopeful that between now and the end of February, this problem should come to an end,” he stated.
In response to concerns about the impact of repeated grid collapses, Alabi disclosed that the Ondo State Government is working on establishing an independent state power grid to reduce reliance on the national grid.
“We are planning the Ondo State power grid, a smart grid that will allow us to buy power directly from generation companies,” he said.
According to him, the proposed grid will operate on a bi-directional system, allowing the state to switch instantly between different power sources depending on availability.
“If one source fails, we switch to another immediately. That way, we won’t depend on one generation company,” he explained.
Alabi added that the proposed Alagbaka Power Plant is also progressing and will further strengthen local power supply once completed.
“Once the limits are concluded, the Alagbaka Power Plant will come up in no distant time,” he assured.
He stressed that once the state grid and local power plants become operational, national grid collapses will no longer affect Ondo State’s electricity supply.
Addressing residents and businesses affected by the outages, the commissioner appealed for patience and public support.
“The process may look slow, but we are not slow. We are careful. It is better to be calculated than to rush and make fundamental mistakes,” he said.
He urged residents to continue asking questions and engaging the government, assuring them that the state would deliver a sustainable power solution.
