Although the government had promised Nigerians that this year's Christmas season will not be spent in darkness, blackout looms in most parts of the country as three out of the six turbines of 220 mega watts (MW) each in Egbin Hydro power plants collapsed on Thursday.
According to the Nigerian Tribune, which reported the news, when the Tribune visited the premises of Egbin power plant in Ijede, a suburb of Lagos State, on Thursday, it was learnt that two units of the largest hydro power plant in Lagos had collapsed.
The Egbin power plant has capacity to generate 1320MW when operating at full capacity, but now it is generating below installed capacity at about 660MW. The Chief Executive Officer of Egbin Hydro power plant, Mr Mike Uzoigwe, told the Tribune on telephone that he could not entertain calls because of an emergency at hand.
According to him, "there is an emergency that requires urgent attention. I am sorry I cannot attend to you now, but you can call me later." However, a staff of the power plant who declined to give her name confirmed the incidents. According to her, "before now, we have five units working optimally, the sixth unit is undergoing some rehabilitation. Due to significant drop in water level at the dams, two units collapsed this morning, leaving only three working."
