NASS will go after those who cheated Nigeria through bad power sector deals —Lawan

The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, on Monday rued the country’s inability to fix its power sector challenges, saying past expenditures had yielded no commensurate results in that area.

He said it was glaring that a few companies were milking this country dry, adding that the time had come for Nigeria to get value for money.

A statement issued by the Special Assistant to the Senate President on Media, Ezrel Tabiowo, said Lawan disclosed this when he hosted a delegation of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company led by its Managing Director, Joseph Chiedu Ugbo, at the National Assembly, Abuja.

According to him, the huge capital outlay on the power sector will not only provide electricity for Nigeria, but also the neighbouring countries.

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Against this backdrop, the President of the Senate has vowed that the National Assembly would insist on accountability and transparency in the power sector, particularly in the application of funds proposed for it in the 2020 budget.

Lawan said the Senate and House Committees through the instrument of oversight would ensure the prudent application of all funds channeled to the power sector.

He said the Federal Government had been severally shortchanged in past agreements with generating and distribution companies.

Lawan, who warned that those behind the past infractions through power deals would be held liable for their actions, said “one of the challenges Nigeria is faced with today and for a very long time in the area of development is power. Until we are able to fix the power situation, the development will continue to be difficult to achieve.”

“This is one area we will continue to give priority to ensure we are able to meet the targets. It’s not going to be easy, but the Government of President Muhammadu Buhari has shown clear determination in ensuring we get the power sector fixed.

“The power sector has been surrounded by controversies for a long time. When the NIPP started, so many things were said; some of which are true.

“Expenditures were made in the past, and we did not see commensurate results from the expenditures. It is something to worry about.

“Some persons also have the tendencies to sign agreements that sometimes are clearly against the national interest. Time has come for people to stop doing this.”

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