The Federal Government is planning to establish a national call centre where electricity consumers can report power outages and other service disruptions for faster resolution.
Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, disclosed this on Wednesday during the commissioning of a 3-megawatt hybrid mini-grid project and renewable energy workshop and training centre at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja.
Tegbe said the proposed centre would also provide a dedicated channel for reporting vandalism of electricity infrastructure for immediate intervention. He added that the government was working with the police, NSCDC and EFCC to curb the vandalism of power assets.
The minister urged students to help protect electricity infrastructure, particularly the newly commissioned solar facility, and report vandalism involving transformers, transmission towers and other power assets.
The project, delivered under Phase Two of the Energising Education Programme, consists of a 3.3MWp solar array, 3MW AC output capacity and 2MWh battery storage. Tegbe said it would serve 58,726 students, while 388 streetlights would improve campus lighting and security.
Rural Electrification Agency Managing Director, Abba Aliyu, said the programme had delivered more than 100MW across 22 federal institutions and university teaching hospitals. He said the agency had established the Renewable Asset Management Company to manage and sustain renewable energy infrastructure and had also created a workshop and training centre to develop local technical skills.
Yakubu Gowon University Vice-Chancellor, Akinwunmi Fawehinmi, said reliable electricity was essential for teaching and research and pledged to maintain the facility. Senate Committee on Power Chairman, Enyinnaya Abaribe, also commended the project and stressed the importance of sustainability in ensuring long-term benefits from power investments.
