Kaduna (Federal Ministry of Power Report) – The Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo (Professor) has commended the new initiative by the Power Collect Operation Command Centre owned by the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on its platform which is insulated from human intervention and purely driven by Information Communication Technology (ICT).
While noting that the initiative will provide a veritable platform to make the yet to be declared Transitional Electricity Market (TEM) work properly, he stated that he is impressed that the nightmare on his assumption of duty over non-availability of an endearing platform to track activities in the three value-chains of electricity has been addressed by the local Nigerian initiative.
He also observed that the privatization of the power sector has brought to fore some obvious challenges, indicating satisfaction that more innovations have been developed to tackle these challenges as they arise. He explained that the newly commissioned platform is an incredible synergy for technical information and financial tracking as every information will be made available on the Communication Technology super highway.
Chinedu Nebo tasked the Management and Board of TCN to redouble their efforts as Nigerians will not accept any excuse. “It is realistic and expedient for TCN to have the capacity for evacuation of a minimum of 6,000MW of electricity by December 2014. It is not business as usual, but business unusual. This platform has demonstrated that electricity business can be done in the most credible and transparent manner and for everyone to see how money flows is matched with how energy flows. All these would not have been possible, but for the privatization of the sector,” he observed.
Speaking at the occasion, the Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil said that the Power Collect Platform has shown another positive side in the on-going privatization of the power sector. He intensified that it is indeed a remarkable development which can serve as a model for other countries in Africa to copy. He declared that while the sector is on course, nobody can stop the cruising, saying the power sector is on the move.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Godknows Igali (Dr) commended the leadership of the sector for the phenomenal development, indicating that it portrayed to the world that the sector can provide the required impetus to stamp its authority and track all valuable information for informed decision making. He therefore appealed to Nigerians to give the operators their support, assuring them that the sector is on track and will play a leading role in the socio-economic development of Nigeria.
Speaking on behalf of the market operators, Ngozi Osuhor described the platform as a milestone towards ensuring sustainability in the market. She added that the platform has been packaged as a home-grown solution and bench-marked by international best practices.She further observed that from the end of GENCOs, they have introduced a level where power is translated to cash and the Ministry would allow every authorized person to have unfettered access through imbibing transparency.
The Managing Director of the Kaduna DISCO, Idris Mohammed averred that in the time past, it was impossible to track the sector’s activities from the comfort of one’s home, but with the innovation, it has become possible. He also said that the Ministry is looking at a time when power would be sold in the black market situation.
The Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power, Beks Dagog-Jack said that the challenge from privatization in the sector is for the leaders to take responsibilities, even across the nation’s borders. He stated that Nigeria as the biggest economy on the continent should take the lead and indeed the rightful position in the scheme of things.
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