The level of successes recorded in the area of generation,transmission and distribution of Nigerian power sector under President GoodLuck Jonathan surpasses records of all previous governments put together,Minister of State Power ,Mohammed Wakil has declared.
Delivering a closing remark at the maiden edition of the National Council on Power ,Wakil said the president has done more to transform,expand, and liberalise the power sector even as he acknowledged that previous leaders did their best in the sector.
“President Jonathan changed the focus from state to private sector run system,built more power plants, expand transmission lines,resolve gas to power debacle, break the jinx of Zungeru and Mambilla hydro dams, and now fine tuning teething problems in the generation and distribution sectors”,the minister said.
He told the delegates from the thirty six states that the inauguration of the council on power is another landmark recorded by the Jonathan presidency ,describing the council as a platform to share federal government vision with the states and for the states to also interface with the center.
“Under the guidance of the president,this council now have critical roles to play in the post privatisation state of the power sector. The administration has now expanded the scope of participation in the power sector to involve all levels of government. This is a commendable step “,Wakil explained .
He however urged Nigerians to exercise patience on the state of the power sector,assuring that ” the challenges of generation,transmission and distribution are been addressed with the comfort of the citizenry in mind. We are providing needed support to the DISCOS and GENCOS.
” We are reasuring them of the safety of their investment even as we urge them to ensure quality service to the citizenry. We are also diversifying into renewable energy. Just as the nation has now stabilised on communication ,we will soon overcome teething problems we are facing in the power sector”, the minister said.