37 federal universities using 1,068 generators - Report

macfranc007 December 18, 2017 Nigeria News today & Breaking news ▷ Read Nigerian newspapers 24/7 Nnenna Ibeh

- 37 federal universities use 1,068 generators as an alternative to power supply

- This was disclosed in a recent energy audit report obtained from the Rural Electrification Agency in Abuja

- The report also said that pollution in the institutions were mainly from these petrol and diesel generators

An audit report of tertiary institutions in Nigeria has shown that 37 federal universities use 1,068 generators as an alternative to power supply.

The energy audit of the universities said the generators contribute to noise and air pollution in the institutions.

Punch reports that the document obtained from the Rural Electrification Agency in Abuja on Sunday, December 17, said that some teaching hospitals were also captured in the recent energy audit.

The agency said: “Energy audits were conducted for all the federal universities and the adjoining university teaching hospitals across the country to determine the energy consumption and future load growth of each of the institutions.

“The results derived were then used to develop the business case and subsequent Standard Bidding Documents for the procurement of goods, works and services required for the Energising Education Programme (EPP).

“As shown from energy audit results, the universities are currently using 1,068 generators as an alternative source of power."

REA also said that EPP is expected to address some of these issues.

It said a population of 224,800 across Phase 1 universities was designed for the generation of 28.56 megawatts covering nine federal universities and one university teaching hospital across the six geopolitical zones.

“This significant number indicates the number of residents, students and (members of) staff that will be positively impacted, as it relates to the well-being, security, quality of learning and services provided and overall socio-economic development of the country.

“It will also reduce air and noise pollution from diesel and petrol generators as alternative power source, encourage the development of renewable energy and captive power plants, improve the general standard of learning and living in universities by enhancing security through street lights, costs of personal power sources, health and safety issues.

“It will improve healthcare service delivery, research, teaching and innovation in the universities teaching hospitals and reduce mortality rate, enhance the global status/ranking of Nigerian universities and give bragging rights to the current government administration if successful," the agency added.

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It also said the EEP was created to implement the energy access and sufficiency action point of the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

REA said the EEP also served as a component of the Power Sector Reform Programme already approved by the Federal Executive Council.

NAIJ.com earlier reported that the Senate committee on power, steel development and metallurgy queried the Rural Electrification Agency's plan to spend N10 billion on solar streetlight project in nine universities across the country.

The chairman of the committee, Eyinnaya Abaribe, and other members asked why the Rural Electrification Agency planned to spend the sum of N10 billion on solar streetlights.

Meanwhile, former students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Akwa presented a 6.5 KVA power generating set.

The students made the presentation in honour of a retiring professor of chemistry and a former deputy vice chancellor of the institution, Austine Eboatu.

Eboatu, NAIJ.com gathered, was honoured for his immense contribution to the growth of his department, faculty and the institution.

Parents advice government over ASUU strike - on NAIJ.com TV