Nigeria’s electricity will receive a boost at the completion of the Gurara Hydropower Plant in Kaduna early next year, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has said.

While inspecting the plant that will add 30 megawatts of electricity to the over 5,000 megawatts that the nation of over 160 million people ration, Mr Fashola said that the addition was in continuation of the drive by the Federal Government to boost power generation.

Addressing reporters at the plant he explained that the additional power from the Gurara Hydropower Plant would boost efforts to stabilise power supply.

Mr Fashola pointed out that the plant would also serve as a source of transporting energy through to Kaduna and Mando substations to connect the Kaduna Power Plant.

He also hailed the Federal Government efforts to increase power generation, saying with wind power being developed in Katsina and the Gurara, Shiroro and Kashimbila hydropower projects, the nation’s energy mix was slowly coming together.

The Minister was at the plant with his team of experts to inspect the level of work done.

They also inspected the Kashimbila Multipurpose Dam project in Taraba State.

The dam when completed would provide electricity and support agricultural ventures in the surrounding communities.

The minister appealed for peace and cooperation from the host community to ensure that the project, which he pointed out would first serve the community, was completed in record time.

Recently, electricity experts advised the Nigerian government to shift focus away from generating power with gas which has seen a setback amidst increasing attacks on oil installations in the southern region by militants.

Several pipelines have been blown up with a militant group, the Niger Delta Avengers claiming responsibility for most of the attacks.

Prior to the exploration of gas for power supply, the nation had depended largely on dams. Poor maintenance and shift of focus away from the dams have also been identified as reasons the nation’s power supply has stopped improving over the years. (Channels TV)

•Photo shows Fashola.

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