Nebo solicits for traditional rulers’ support on power sector reform

[FMINigeria]

                        The Minister of Power; Prof. Chinedu Nebo has solicited the support and co-operation of traditional rulers in the country for the on-going reform in the power sector.

He said the support of royal fathers as opinion moulders, would be vital, especially for the full privatization of the sector which would mean handing over control of the sector from public to privately entrepreneurs.   The Minister was speaking while on a courtesy visit to the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris in his palace in Zaria.   Prof. Nebo said traditional rulers are very important for peaceful co-existence among the various socio-cultural, ethnic and religious groups in the country, pointing out that even well thought-out power programmes and projects cannot benefit the people without peace.   The Minister described the Emir of Zazzau as a highly respected traditional ruler who he said, he had the privilege of working under his leadership at the University of Nigeria Nsukka, as Chancellor of the institution, and he the Minister as a foot soldier accomplished a lot of development, which then revived the  University and restored the citadel of learning to its former glory.   He said his Ministry would always count on the support and prayer of the Emir in the on-going reform in the sector.   Prof. Chinedu said he was in Kaduna to commission several completed projects such as Degel II Distribution sub-station, Narayi injection sub-station, Gorin Gora injection sub-station, Anguwan Muazu injection sub-station and Abakpa  1x15MVA  injection sub-station all in Kaduna and  33/11kv injection sub-station in Zaria.   According to the Minister, all these are part of efforts by the Government to provide uninterrupted electricity supply to consumers in the shortest possible time.   Earlier, the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris said he worked with Prof. Chinedu Nebo and knew him to be a man imbued with virtues of honesty, transparency and hard-work.   The Emir congratulated him on his well deserved appointment as Minister of Power.   He expressed confidence that with the appointment of Prof Nebo, the problem of energy insufficiency would soon be over, and promised to always support and co-operate with the Minister to provide power to Nigerians.   Alhaji Shehu Idris wished the Minister a very successful tenure and prayed that the on-going reform in the sector would succeed.   It will be recalled that as Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), the Emir of Zazzau worked with Professor Nebo during the latter's tenure as Vice Chancellor of the University.



Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria