The Senate yesterday constituted a 12-man committee to probe
the management of funds allocated to the power sector since 1999.
The decision to probe the management of power sector allocations since 1999 was the fallout of a motion by the Senate Leader, Senator Ali Ndume, on the disconnection of Maiduguri from national power grid.
The Senate therefore urged President Muhammad Buhari to direct the Transmission Company of Nigeria to immediately reconnect Maiduguri to the national grid.
It also urged the federal government to complete the Mambilla power project with a view to improving electricity supply in the country. Ndume expressed concern that Nigeria, with the population of over 150 million, boasts of producing 4, 600 megawatts is ridiculous whereas South Africa with the population of 52 million produces as much as 40,000 megawatts.
The continued erratic power supply across the country had
affected economic activities and resulted in the collapse of several
industries. The senator further expressed concern that with an installed power
generation potential of about 5,000 megawatts, the output being distributed at
present is about 1,950 megawatts of energy. He said it was disheartening that
Nigeria continues to grope in darkness while Iran with only 70 million
population generates about 42,000 megawatts and South Korea with about 35
million population generates about 60,000 megawatts of electricity.
The problem of power was on before 1999 and I am surprised that up till today, the power sector is still grappling with insufficient power supply. This motion is apt because there is a need to find out what happened in spite of the huge sum spent by the Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
Senator Godswill Akpabio lamented the numbers of companies that had been shut down as a result of epileptic power supply.
In 2015, we are celebrating 4,000 megawatts when we cannot have employment without power, and Nigerians are complaining about high cost and some localities which have not seen electric power for months, and are asked to pay high tariff for the electricity they don’t see.
The National Assembly took the decision following a motion sponsored by the Deputy Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, on “the worrisome and unstable position of Nigeria aviation industry.”
Meanwhile, the Senate had adjourned plenary till September 29 in observance of its annual six weeks’ break.
The problem of power was on before 1999 and I am surprised that up till today, the power sector is still grappling with insufficient power supply. This motion is apt because there is a need to find out what happened in spite of the huge sum spent by the Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
Senator Godswill Akpabio lamented the numbers of companies that had been shut down as a result of epileptic power supply.
In 2015, we are celebrating 4,000 megawatts when we cannot have employment without power, and Nigerians are complaining about high cost and some localities which have not seen electric power for months, and are asked to pay high tariff for the electricity they don’t see.
The National Assembly took the decision following a motion sponsored by the Deputy Leader, Senator Bala Ibn Na’Allah, on “the worrisome and unstable position of Nigeria aviation industry.”
Meanwhile, the Senate had adjourned plenary till September 29 in observance of its annual six weeks’ break.
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