Stable Power Supply Not Likely Till 2014 - Nnaji

[emezico]

The minister-designate assessment and statement of power supply in the country, is contrary to what President Jonathan promised Nigerians. Anyway, time will time.

The welled-up hope of a stable power supply in the country may yet wait a while before it becomes a reality, given the not-very-bright picture painted by Professor Barth Nnaji, a minister-designate, who was cleared Wednesday by the Senate.

Nnaji explained that there would be a concerted effort to increase the present megawatts generated by 1000 this year and another 1000 next year. The nation currently generates about 3,400 megawatts.

But the minister-designate expressed confidence that the nation could hit a 15,000- megawatt target by 2014, at which time electricity supply would be stable and guaranteed.

Nnaji, a former special adviser to the president on energy, gave the explanations while answering senators' questions during the confirmation hearing session.

According to him, the government was planning to have four sources of power. These, he said, were the existing power plants, which had a generating capacity of over 5,000 megawatts but which were currently generating about 2,400 megawatts; the existing Independent Power Plants (IPPs) owned by Shell and Agip; the bulk traders who were expected to buy about 6,000 megawatts of power from private companies; as well as the hydro and coal power plants in Mambilla and Zungeru.

Nnaji argued that "if you calculate the amount of power that will come from all the four sources within the next two years, you would have crossed the 10,000 megawatts because they are already being constructed, and will soon be completed, and by 2014, we should be reaching about 15,000 megawatts."


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[MyInfoStride]

Time will surely tell. 2014 is not that far. Not even how far but how well. Only if his submission will become a reality. It is easier said than done. Let us be patience and see if the minister will not swallow his words... Or what do you think?

[emezico]

l suggest that our leaders should be sure of what they tell Nigerians. They should assess situations before making affirmative statements.

President Jonathan raised the hopes of Nigerians by declaring last month that "epileptic power supply would soon be a thing of the past."

Going by the President's statement, although, he didn't state what year, but one can deduce, it could mean 2011/2012, as against 2014 predicted by minister-designate Professor Barth Nnaji, which is contradictory to the word "soon."

2014 can't mean soon, or what do you think?