The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has appealed to stakeholders in the power sector to partner the Federal Government in its effort to overhaul the sector.
Fashola made the appeal while unveiling an overhauled generating unit of the Jebba Hydro Power Station on Monday.The rehabilitation work was the first carried out in the power station since it was inaugurated in 1985. The rehabilitation of the generating unit made possible through a N3.5 billon grant by the Japanese government through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Mainstream Energy Solutions Limited, concessionaires of the power station, provided the N1.7 billion counterpart fund to bring the project cost to N5.2 billion. Fashola noted that stability must be restored to guarantee investments in the power sector; otherwise it would be difficult to reposition the sector.
“Unless we have stability and liquidity in that sector, it would be extremely difficult to grow the interest and investment that would ramp up the power supply from where it is. “This is the gap that we must fill and this is the challenge that we must overcome. “So, I once again appeal to all of the stakeholders to join hands with us, the government, the private owners, and everybody who is interested to add value to the sector. “There are no sides in this challenge.
For us, there is only one purpose: providing reliable power to the Nigerian people.” The minister commended the investors and development partners involved in the work for choosing to invest their resources in Nigeria’s economy. He assured that the Federal Government would continue to support committed indigenous business owners who deployed their financial resources for the diversification and expansion of Nigeria’s economy.
“This plant has gone for over thirty years without prerequisite overhaul when at the time of commissioning in 1985, it would have been overhauled once every six years. “All I wish to say is that for investors, like Mainstream and other concessionaires, as long as they play by the rules, they deserve our support. “They have chosen to invest in a place we call home.
There are others who have taken their money out. “If the likes of Mainstream did not invest, the workers in this place would have no work. “So, I once again use this opportunity to commend the investors, the workers and our development partners, the nation of Japan, represented by their ambassador, the JICA, ’’ Fashola said. Representative of JICA Nigeria Office, Mr Hirotaka Nakamura explained that the grant was a demonstration of the agency’s preparedness to contribute to the development of Nigeria. Click to signup for FREE news updates, latest information and hottest gists everyday
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