Babatunde Raji Fashola confirms Buhari’s administration is slow

Babatunde Raji Fashola, the minister of Power, works and Housing Development has on Monday said that president Muhammadu Buhari administration is slowly but it surely delivered his promises to the Nigerians.

Fashola stated this when declared open a one-day stakeholders’ meeting on power sector in Lafia the state capital.

According to the Minister, “What brings us here today is to spurge a micro meeting of the Power Sector where all of the stakeholders in the Power Sector will meet to brainstorm on way forward, as you can see  all MD of powers are here, Niger Delta Power company, Abuja Distribution Company, Discos Company, Gas Operators who support us and Central Bank all are here to discuss way forward  in Nasarawa State.

“We have inspecting 1330kV substation to expand power in some area it has not reach.

“The administration of Buhari is going slowly but surely living his footprint on infrastructure development in every state of this country. I can tell you work is progressing in Loko Bridge that ultimately connecting Nasarawa with Benue State.

“I can also tell that financing arrangement has been concluded for the construction Keffi Akwanga highway to Jos.

“I can also tell you that intense of housing project development is the way, construction has started and what remain is electrical and mechanical. The same things can be said for the Federal Secretariat in Lafia,” Babatunde Raji Fashola said.

Responding, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura said since the assumption of his office in May 2011, he made a solemn pledge to improve the living standard of the people of the State through implementation of policies and programmes that have direct bearing on the lives of our people.

His words, “Power Sector as one of the critical component of our development aspirations has continued to be given high premium. So, considering that our population in the State is in the region of five million people and increasing at a geometric progression, the reality implies that the State requires about 5000MW of power going by the ratio of 1kw per person to transform the State into a modern industrialized society,” he said.

The also note that currently, the State has less than 10MW with less than 40 percent of communities connected to the national grid adding that this situation is antithetical to the developmental aspirations.

The governor also adding that, “It is this reason that at the just concluded 3rd National Council on Power which took place in Jos, Nasarawa State presented some of its power problems ranging from: Inadequate incoming power allocated to the State with limited grid coverage of the entire State.

“Over extended 33KV sub grid lines (more than 100km) Inadequate Injection Sub stations, overloaded distribution feeders and distribution transformers.

The use of under-gauged conductors on 33/11/0.415kV network. Continuous use of untreated wooden poles susceptible to termite and high wind activities in township distribution network.

“Untimely response to complaints by DisCo (AEDC),

The continuous practice of estimated billing of energy,

Refund of investments in the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company (AEDC) networks by the State Government which had since been sent to NERC,” he said.

He, however, appealed to the Minister to direct Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Company (NERC) and NEMSA to strengthen the enforcement of regulations in the State by opening a contact centre in Lafia, the State capital.

Credit :Independent