The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, claims that Nigeria has achieved 100 per cent increase in power generation within a space of three years.
The minister disclosed this while hosting members of the Federation of Construction Industry in his office on Monday in Abuja, specifically stated that power generation increased from 4,000 megawatts in 2015 to 8,000MW in 2018.
However, Fashola’s claims contradicts latest power generation figures obtained from the Transmission Company of Nigeria on Monday, as the TCN stated that peak generation attained on February 3, 2019, was 4,976MW.
According to the TCN, the peak average energy ever sent out was 4,557MWH/H, which was in February 2, 2016.
It added that the overall peak power generation ever attained was 5,222MW, which was recorded on December 18, 2017.
Fashola made the claims when explaining to his guests that Nigerians now spent less on fuelling of generators and plants because of frequent and improved electricity supply nationwide.
The minister noted that the government was committed to renewing and expanding the Nigerian economy through the provision of critical infrastructure.
He further stated that the ministry was almost completing 34 pilot national housing programmes in the states that had provided land for the take-off of the programme.
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Fashola assured FOCI members that the Federal Government recognised the efforts of the association in helping to galvanise the quarry and mining industry due to the volume of construction going on in the built environment and the road sector.
“When I first met you, there were complaints of non-payment for three to four years before the coming of this administration,” the minister said.
“But I can confidently say there is not one year since the beginning of this administration that contractors have not been paid; the money move round the economy.”
Fashola explained that Executive Order 5 sought to achieve local participation for Nigerians and Nigerian companies, as the ministry was already compiling the list of Nigerians working on project sites.
He added that the recent Executive Order 7 signed by the President would ensure industrialisation, thereby expanding construction work and manufacturing jobs.
Speaking on behalf of the association, The Director-General, FOCI, Olubunmi Adekoje, appreciated the ministry for the support given to the association and the timely intervention in the area of finance to boost the activities of the industry.