FROM DENNIS MERNYI, ABUJA
The Federal Government has reiterated it’s determination to boost transmission capacity of Nigeria’s generating companies’ value chain.
Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, who said this in Abuja Wednesday, noted that it was needless if generated power cannot be used, hence it was important to strengthen the engine that would ensure that the chain is not broken.
While calling for more foreign investments, Nebo who identified the Chinese as special people that have capacity to identify opportunities, said “little wonder that China is doing so well with us in the secto
“We will continue to support and defend your interests and investments here,” while urging the Chinese to do more in terms of investing in the sector, particularly in the area of renewable energy where a lot of opportunities still exist.
Nebo counseled the Chinese to also build synergy with Distribution and Generation Companies as they could build mutual relationship in the area of embedded or generated power within a locality and get such distributed through the Disco in the area.
He commended the present administration for its doggedness and determination to push electricity agenda to this level through its privatisation programme, adding that without the political will, the whole process would have derailed.
The Minister said that even the opposition has expressed this position at different fora, as the Nigerian power privatisation remained irreversible, saying “the gap is huge and government is deeply committed to making sure it gets power right.
‘‘The Independent Power Producers (IPP) should be able to produce, while on our side, we should ensure that power gets to the people,”he said
He said the statistics of power in Nigeria is abysmally low, noting that “Nigeria is producing only 2.5 per cent of power produced in South Africa. Those who are wise are taking position and falling over each other to partake in the sector,”he stated.
He commended the level of confidence the Chinese have in the sector, saying that encouraging funding has come from EXIM Bank into the sector, especially since the high-powered delegation, led by President Goodluck Jonathan, visited China in 2013.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, Mariam Olusola Akomode, the Chairperson of Cartlark International, assured the Minister that her company will tag along with the President’s Transformation Agenda underscored by the level playing ground provided for Public Private Partnership (PPP) initiative.
She maintained that,for a country like Nigeria that is in a hurry to develop its critical infrastructure, the PPP model is a viable option, adding that the company will explore PPP to finance its transmission projects as planned.
Source : SunOnline
