The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo has directed that all issues surrounding metering and unfair billing should be resolved immediately without any Nigerian being short-changed.
The Minister gave the directive while answering questions on the African Independent Television Programme: "90 Minutes", with the focus: Power Sector: Can Nigeria get it right, monitored in Abuja.
The Minister expressed regret that the sector's neglect has been as a result of the wrong notion which classified power as a social welfare service. He observed that it was only in 1999, with the return of Nigeria to Democracy that the gross neglect got addressed. For instance, he said that although for 17 years, no single engineer was hired in the power sector, this huge gap in human capacity required to run the sector, is being bridged with the on-going recruitment of young Nigerian engineers.
Prof. Nebo, who said the current power generation is more than 4000MW, further disclosed that before President Goodluck Jonathan's Administration, the country was producing just over 2000MW. He asked rhetorically, "from 2000MW in 2010 to the current 4,500MW, is this not achievement? He stated therefore, that all hands must be on deck to improve the power generation as the present capacity of 4000MW is unacceptable considering the nation's population and potentials as "giant of Africa".
Furthermore, the Minister stated that Government is committed to diversifying energy generation capacity to include renewable sources such as wind, solar, coal, biomass and small hydro; he also spoke on the energy policy and energy efficiency initiatives of the administration.
On the previously moribund Rural Electrification Agency (REA), he said, before the coming on board of President Goodluck Jonathan's intervention, the Agency was abandoned, but the present administration revived, making it more effective in the provision of electricity off grid to rural dwellers.
Prof. Nebo assured Nigerians that at the end of the on-going privatisation, Nigerians will heave a sigh of relief as the generator importers will soon be eased out of business.
On labour issues, the Minister said that he has directed the commencement of payment of severance package to PHCN staff on which about N384 billion is going to be expended with additional N16billion to pay other retirees and pensioners of the company.
He assured that the revolution in the telecoms sector would be a child's play when compared with the revolution that is about to happen in the power sector as huge investment is expected in the on-going privatization when it is completed. This would further inject a lot of funds and stimulate financial activities in the sector.
During the phone-in programme, a caller, Chinonso from Karu in the FCT commended the efforts of the Minister of Power, at revamping the sector, saying that power supply to Karu area had greatly improved.
It will be recalled that recent reports also indicate significant improvement in electricity supply in Kaduna State and environs, Zamfara State, Anambra State and the Federal Capital Territory among others.
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Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria