Nigeria May Not Have Power Supply In The Next Ten Years If…- Lawan
The Senate has advised the Federal Government to urgently cancel the entire privatization process carried out during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.
It also warned that Nigeria might not have adequate power supply in the next years, if the privatisation was not cancelled.
President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking during discussions on a motion titled ”Power Sector Recovery Plan and the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic”
According to him, it is disheartening that with huge sums of money spent so far on the power sector, results are not being achieved
He also called for to immediate suspension of the planned electricity tariff increase due to take effect in July.
The Red Chamber however asked the government, through the Ministry of Finance, to include the Nigeria Electric Power Sector in the disbursement of proposed N1.7trillon COVID-19 intervention fund.
Lawan, who said the the Senate committee will investigate trillions spent so far to reinvigorate the power sector without commensurate results, said: “We gave power to them (power generation and distribution companies) and they still come to the public to ask for funds.
“I think it’s time for Nigeria to consider reversing privatization of the power sector or they should just cancel the entire privatization process completely. If we leave it, we may not have power for another ten years.”
“We expected efficiency and something better. DISCOs have no capacity to supply us power. We shouldn’t continue to give them money. They’re private businesses; we need to review this whole thing. Something is wrong.
“Our committee needs to investigate trillions spent. That’s a lot of money. Try and find out what has happened so far. Government needs to look at this whole thing. Maybe government is not doing its own part.
“We need to find out. There is lack of capital. We feel very bad. There is no electricity and the country is suffering.”
Consequently, the Senate mandated the Committee on Power, led by Senator Gabriel Suswam (PDP, Benue North-East), to investigate all Federal Government interventions in the power sector since privatization of the sector to date, with a view to ascertaining adequacy of such interventions and desired impact, and report back within four weeks.
The Senate also asked its Committee on Power to investigate all market participants in the power value chain and ascertain the level of corporate governance compliance in the Nigerian Electricity Industry and also report back within four weeks.
The resolutions yesterday were sequel to the adoption of a motion on Power Sector Recovery Plan and Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic, sponsored by Senator Gabriel Suswam.
