U.S urges Nigeria to ensure implementation of power roadmap.

[FMINigeria]

                        The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the privatization of the power sector insisting that there is no going back on contents and details of the approved Power Sector Road Map just as the U.S Government has charged it to stick to its plan so as to ensure credibility and integrity for the whole process.

Speaking in his office when he met with a USAID delegation, the Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo revealed that to even strengthen and take care of identified gaps, Government would soon approve, Road Map II.

He said that "we must hit the ground running, we do appreciate the enormous work you have done in the past, especially in the area of capacity building. We need more help now even in the area of strengthening institutions that will implement our plan.  We are calling for more investment, we want genuine investors to take advantage of the revolution that is about to happen in the sector".

Describing it as phenomenal which would surpass the development recorded in the telecommunication sector, he noted that power is so crucial to every-day living noting that a large number of the population has been denied power over the years especially in the rural areas. Stressing the priorities of Government, the Minister said "we need to develop the critical mass of experts in all areas of generation, transmission and distribution", just as he identified the ageing population of the workforce in the sector as a problem that would require assistance from USAID.

"The Federal Government has empowered the Nigerian Bulk Electricity Trader with the sum of one-billion dollars, which has been approved in form of bond.  It would enable it purchase electricity from the generating companies", he said.

The Minister of State, Hajia Zainab Kuchi said that the inauguration of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) reaffirms President Goodluck Jonathan's commitment in resolving Manitoba issues.

The USAID Team led by Dana Mansuri, pledged the support of her group to the privatization efforts of Government which she said had attracted the attention of U.S President, Barak Obama, hence the visit of the group to the country.

She said that going by what the group saw on ground, she could safely describe the market for power in Nigeria as innovative and creative, while urging the Government to stick to its plan so as to ensure credibility and integrity for the whole process.

Mansuri further assured the Ministry of support in the area of strengthening capacity especially in rural electrification efforts.

Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria

[Folami David]

We do not need United States to tell us to ensure implementation, this is what we should know ourselves. Nigeria have to do things on their own sometimes