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Cancel power privatization now – Senate tells FG

Published

5 years ago

May 20, 2020

Following unending epileptic electricity supply in the country, the Senate yesterday condemned the power sector, and asked the Federal Government to urgently cancel the entire privatization process carried out during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

It also warned that Nigeria might not have adequate power supply in the next years, if the privatisation was not cancelled, and urged the Federal Government to immediately suspend the planned electricity tariff increase due to take effect in July.

The Red Chamber also called on government, through the Ministry of Finance, to include the Nigeria Electric Power Sector in the disbursement of proposed N1.7trillon COVID-19 intervention fund.

Speaking yesterday during discussions on a motion, titled “Power Sector Recovery Plan and the Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic,” President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan, said it is disheartening that with huge sums of money spent so far on the power sector, results are not being achieved.

Lawan, who said the the Senate committee will investigate trillions spent so far to reinvigorate the power sector without commensurate results, said: “We gave power to them (power generation and distribution companies) and they still come to the public to ask for funds.

“I think it’s time for Nigeria to consider reversing privatization of the power sector or they should just cancel the entire privatization process completely. If we leave it, we may not have power for another ten years.”