Igali lauds Polish company on ICT solutions, rates poles dependable allies in sector privatization

ABUJA (Federal Ministry of Power Report)

The Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Power, Godknows Igali has commended the giant strides achieved by the Polish –  based ICT Solutions Company (ASSECO Group), describing the relationship between the Ministry and the company as good pointer to the fact that the power privatization programme is working and on course.

He made the commendation when he received a delegation from Poland led by the country’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Przem Yslaw Niesiolowslli recently. He also said that ASSECO has done well in closing the gaps in both technical and commercial losses, thus helping Nigerian customers to pay less for such losses. He further explained that the losses could have been transferred to them through higher tariffs.

Godknows Igali applauded the efforts of the Polish firm on the provision of training opportunities for Nigerians in the Ministry, Discos and Gencos on the handling of ICT solutions. He further disclosed that the ASSECO Group is now working assiduously with Ikeja, Eko and Abuja Discos, promising the group that the Ministry will support them in the quest to establish offices in other parts of Nigeria.

Speaking on the capability of ASSECO Group to extend its expertise from distribution to the transmission sub-sector, Igali expressed delight that the company has the capacity to deplore the ICT solutions that would help Nigeria address the problem relating to the transmission grid, theft of energy, vandalism and stolen cables. He assured his support to the group in its quest to help Nigeria overcome inadequate power supply.

In his brief remarks on behalf of the Polish Group, Simon Melchior averred that ASSECO has the capacity to design, develop and provide the ICT services that would enable end-users reduce aggregate commercial and technical losses through blocking of loopholes and elimination of leakages to the barest minimum. He hinted that Nigeria has a lot to learn from the experiences of Poland in the privatization process of its power sector.

Melchior added that a lot is needed for the enumeration and marking of existing and potential customers, in order to detect direct bye – pass using global, systemic and holistic approach. “We are poised to add-value to all areas of ICT solutions in the nation’s fledging power sector,” he intensified.