Politics

Senate targets Obj, GEJ in power sector probe

Published

9 years ago

August 14, 2015

The Senate on Thursday set up a 13-member Ad-Hoc Committee headed by Senator Abubakar Kyari, to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the management of funds spent on the power sector since 1999.

The Upper Chamber took the decision while passing a motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, seeking the immediate reconnection of some parts of Borno State back to the national grid in view of the challenges the blackout was posing to his constituents.
The Committee was also directed to probe the unbundling of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria by the Federal Government, conclude its investigations and report to the Senate within two weeks.
The Senate urged the government to complete the Mambilla Power Project with the aim of improving electricity supply in the country, and called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Transmission Company of Nigeria to immediately reconnect Maiduguri to the national grid.

The senators, while contributing to the debate, also condemned the inability of the TCN to provide uninterrupted power supply to all parts of the country.
Ndume had expressed concern that Nigeria, with a population of over 150 million, produced only 4,600 megawatts, while South Africa with a population of about 40 million people produced 40,000 megawatts.
Senate President, Bukola Saraki, noted that the inadequate power supply in the country was a cause for concern, saying it had affected the economic growth of the nation.
“The Ad Hoc Committee that we set up should look at the activities of the Discos and what is preventing Nigerians from benefitting from the unbundling of the PHCN”, he said.

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