Following huge expenses incurred by Nigerian manufacturers on alternative energy sources as a result of poor supply of electricity to industrial areas in the country, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) has pledged to construct special power lines for identified industrial hubs under the coverage of the electricity distribution company.

The move to construct dedicated electricity lines to boost energy supply to industrial hubs came against the backdrop of N877.4 million spent annually on alternative sources of energy by all members of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in the year 2014 for the production of goods, out of which Ogun State spent N704.7 million being a state with the highest number of industries.

The figures were given by Frank Jacobs, president, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), who said manufacturers in Ogun state, being the largest host of industries in the country, spent over N704 million in 2014 on alternative ?energy sources, out of over N877 spent by all manufacturers in the country.

According to Jacobs, Ogun state being the host of largest number of manufacturing companies in the country, spent N704.7 million on alternative sources of energy in 2014, saying despite the harsh operating business environment, manufactures still remain in the business.

Speaking on the issues of poor supply of energy to industrial hubs in the south-west at the 8th CEOs/MDs Business Luncheon organised by MAN, Ayodele Joseph, head of commercial operations, Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), disclosed that special electricity lines would be constructed to serve mainly industries.

Joseph said that Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC), which covers Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and Kwara states, would also partner with state governments on construction of dedicated power lines for industrial hubs in various states under the coverage, adding that effective technology would be deployed on power distribution to boost industrial production.

"We have taken significant moves to have special electricity feeders for industrial hubs. We are going to have dedicated meters for industrial hubs in order to give priority to manufacturers. Therefore, we will partner with state governments on effective distribution of power to industrial areas under our coverage," he said.

While speaking on local content in the production of energy meters used by DISCOs, he said "regarding meters importation, we have meters manufacturers and contractors that produce and assemble meters locally. IBEDC does not import any meters."

"Right now in Ibadan, we have contractors handling our meters production, we don't import energy meters", he added.

But, Wale Adegbite, chairman, MAN, Ogun State branch, said that acute power shortage is a major cause of unemployment in the country, noting that records show that "many Nigerians that ?are out of job today would have been employed, directly or indirectly, if there was reasonable electric power supply. Manufacturing industries would operate well, expand their capacities and employ more people."