The Federal Government, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is set to establish a national call centre through which electricity consumers across Nigeria will be able to lodge complaints and seek resolution of power-related challenges.
The Minister of Power, Chief Joseph Tegbe, disclosed this on Wednesday during the commissioning of a three-megawatt hybrid mini-grid project and a Renewable Energy Workshop and Training Centre at Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja.
Tegbe said his office was working on the establishment of the call centre to provide a central platform for receiving and resolving electricity complaints nationwide. According to him, the initiative is also expected to create sustainable employment opportunities for young Nigerians.
The minister also announced plans for a dedicated channel through which members of the public can report vandalism of critical electricity infrastructure for prompt action and remediation. He said the government was working with the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to tackle the vandalism of power assets across the country.
Tegbe urged students and other members of the university community to help protect electricity infrastructure by reporting acts of vandalism involving the newly commissioned solar facility, transformers, transmission towers and other critical power assets.
He said the commissioned project would benefit 58,726 students, while 388 streetlights installed under the project would improve campus illumination and security. The minister added that reliable electricity would strengthen research activities, reduce dependence on diesel generators and ease pressure on the university’s institutional budget.
According to Tegbe, the investment in electricity infrastructure aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly the administration’s focus on directing power infrastructure towards services and productive activities that improve the lives of Nigerians.
He said the continuity of government investment in electricity projects was important to young Nigerians who depend on educational institutions, stressing that the completion of successive phases of national programmes demonstrates sustained commitment to infrastructure development.
Speaking at the event, the Managing Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Abba Aliyu, said the Renewable Asset Management Company (RAMCO) was established to address the need for effective protection, management and preservation of renewable energy infrastructure.
Aliyu explained that constructing energy infrastructure and managing it over its lifespan were distinct responsibilities, adding that RAMCO would provide a platform for monitoring, maintaining and optimising renewable energy assets.
He called for collective responsibility among stakeholders, stressing that the long-term value of the project would depend not only on the infrastructure installed but also on how effectively it is maintained and sustained.
