The Presidential flag bearer of the All Progressives Congress, APC Mr. Bola Tinubu has promised improved power supply with additional megawatts for Nigerians if elected next year.
Tinubu in his Renewed Hope Agenda has vowed to accord priority to improved power supply which he believes would serve as a catalyst for socio-economic development of the nation.
In a statement sgned by the Chairman, APC-PCC Media Committee for Lagos State, Mr. Kehinde Bamgbetan, the APC Presidential flagbearer said that he would build on the foundation laid by President Buhari’s Presidential Power Initiative towards making the sector viable for the benefit of all Nigerians.
“At the moment, the nation has about 12,000 megawwats of installed capacity but generates only 8, 000 megawatts while 4,500 were distributed nationwide.
“One of the first steps to take after assuming office is to ensure that power already generated are distributed for economic benefits and quality of lives for the people.”
According to him, the new administrator will provide platform for states and those in the energy sector to enter into partnership with the federal government to create renewable energy and new Independent Power Plant.
“Before 1999, the National Electric Power Authority, NEPA, had the sole monopoly of power generation and distribution in Nigeria but Lagos State became the first sub National to do so with the initiation of Enron Power Project.”
“This was after an MOU was signed between the Tinubu administration, Yinka Folawiyo Power Limited and Enron Corporation of the United States for an Independent Power Plant, IPP, with the Federal Government as the guarantor.”
“The barge-mounted electricity generating plant was to be located adjacent NEPA’s Egbin Power Station, but later became contentious over claims that the power generated was being transmitted to the National Grid for the use of the entire country, instead of only Lagos agreed by both parties.”
“Despite the controversy surrounding the Enron power project initiated by Tinubu, the Federal Government led by Olusegun Obasanjo accepted the wisdom in breaking the monopoly of NEPA, which has since transformed into the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN.”
The statement further stressed that the successive governments after Tinubu had continued with the initiative and today some of the critical infrastructure in the State are powered by IPP.
The former Lagos State Governor insisted that the era of estimated billing which had caused several face-off between Nigerians and officials of the power managers will become a thing of the past by ensuring that all electricity consumers are provided with meters.
Lateefah Ibrahim
