On Thursday the Senate set up a 13-member Ad-Hoc Committee to carry out a
comprehensive investigation into the management of funds appropriated
for the power sector since 1999. The Committee, headed by Senator
Abubakar Kyari, was also given the task of probing the unbundling of the
defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria by the Federal Government.
The Upper Chamber took the decision while passing a
motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, seeking the immediate
reconnection of some parts of Borno State back to the national grid in
view of the challenges the blackout was posing to his constituents.
The Senate urged the Federal Government to complete the Mambilla Power
Project with the aim of improving electricity supply in the country. It
also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Transmission
Company of Nigeria to immediately reconnect Maiduguri to the national
grid. It directed the committee to conclude its investigations and
report to the Senate within 2 weeks.
The senators, while contributing to the debate, also condemned the
inability of the TCN to provide uninterrupted power supply to all parts
of the country.
Ndume expressed concern that Nigeria, with a population of over 150
million, only produced 4,600 megawatts, while South Africa with a
population of about 40 million people produced 40,000 megawatts. He
observed that the disconnection of Maiduguri , the Borno State capital,
from the national grid, as well as the degeneration of power supply
across the country had affected the economy negatively.
He also said that with an installed power generation potential of about
5,000 megawatts, the output distributed currently was about 1,950
megawatts and that it was disheartening to note that Iran with over 77
million people “generates about 42,000 megawatts, while South Korea with
over 49 million people generates about 60,000 megawatts of
electricity.” Ndume, who said that Maiduguri and its environs had been
completely disconnected since the emergence of insurgency, complained
that the situation had grounded economic activities in the state.
He said:
“I buy diesel to run my generator and that costs me N10, 000 per day. No
country can be said to be near development when there is no power.
“This Senate needs to investigate this to give the government support.
For some years now, a lot of money has been spent but there is nothing
to show for it.”
Senator Godswill Akpabio lamented that many companies had shut down
operation due to irregular power supply in the country. He lamented that
in spite of the financial contribution by some states in the South to
improve power supply, Nigerians were still grappling with lack of
electricity supply.
He said,
“In 2015, we are celebrating 4,000 megawatts, for me this is worrisome.
We cannot have employment without power and Nigerians are complaining
about the high cost and some localities which have not seen light for
months are asked to pay high tariff.”
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, noted that the inadequate power supply
in the country was a cause for concern, saying it had affected the
economic growth of the nation. He said that the lack of power supply had
plunged the country into further hardship.
He said, “We thought that with the Power Reform Act and the unbundling
of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, we will begin to see
improvement with regard to power supply; unfortunately, it is not so.
“The Ad Hoc Committee that we set up should look at the activities of
the Discos and what is preventing Nigerians from benefitting from the
unbundling of the PHCN.”
Punch
