Senate demands immediate reversal of power privatisation
Afnews Editor
May 20, 2020
The Senate on Tuesday asked the Federal Government to consider a comprehensive review of the power privatisation policy with a view to reversing the current arrangement.
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The red chamber said Nigerians would not enjoy stable power supply in the next 10 years if the activities of the distribution companies were not reviewed and restructured.
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The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, stated this on Tuesday after the Senate had considered and approved a motion by Senator Gabriel Suswan on the power sector recovery plan.
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He said, "We gave power to them (power generation and distribution companies) and they still come to the public to ask for funds.
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"I think it's time for Nigeria to consider reversing the privatisation of the power sector or they should just cancel the entire privatisation process completely.
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"If we leave it, we may not have power for another 10 years."
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Lawan said, "The privatisation of the power sector has, so far, not been successful. We expected efficiency and effectiveness in the power supply.
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"The Discos have no capacity to supply us power. The Gencos have challenges too.
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"It is not a good commentary that we should continue to give them money. They're private businesses. We need to review this privatisation.
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"Our committee needs to investigate trillions spent. That's a lot of money.
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"Try to find out what has happened so far. Government needs to look at this whole thing.
"Maybe, government is not doing its own part. We need to find out.
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"There is lack of capital, lack of investment. We feel very bad because we have no electricity and the country is suffering."
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The Senate also urged the Federal Government to suspend the planned electricity tariff increase due to take effect from July given the increased hardship occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.
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The upper chamber also commended the Federal Government for the proactive initiative to establish the N1.7tn Covid-19 crisis intervention fund to cater for critical issues on effective management of the pandemic.
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Suswam, had while leading debate on the general principles of the bill, said stable and uninterrupted power supply was also a critical factor in management of COVID-19 pandemic patients at the designated isolation and treatment centres across the country.
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— Afnews Editor