Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, yesterday said that the
Federal Government promises improved
electricity supply by June, 2014 and not constant power supply.
Nebo made the clarification in an interview with the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) yesterday in Abuja on the sidelines of a “Pre-inaugural
International Workshop” organised by the Nigerian
Society of Engineers,
NSE. It will be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan was quoted by
a section of the media to have promised constant power supply by June
this year.
“Concerning the promise on power supply in June; we are not saying
constant power supply by June; we are saying improved power supply.
“For instance, if you were getting eight hours of power supply and
you now get 10, it is improvement, if you are getting 16 hours and you
get 18 it is improvement.
“If you are getting 18 hours and you get 22 it is improvement; that
is what we are saying, though the ministry is facing some challenges,
with time everything will be stable.”
According to Nebo, the Federal Government has already committed a lot
to the power sector and work is being done to normalise electricity
supply in parts of the country.
He said that there was improvement in power supply in many states
during the Yuletide, apart from Lagos that had some hitches due to what
he called ‘unique challenge.’
“Most parts of the country got better power supply during the
Yuletide, Kaduna had excellent supply, Abuja and many places got 23 to
24 hours power supply and so many other states.
“Though there were challenges, we are doing everything possible to
overcome these challenges so that we can deliver more power to
Nigerians.”
The minister said that government alone could not fund the infrastructure deficit in the country, saying: “That is why the
Public Private Partnership, PPP, is very crucial if Nigeria must meet its development target.
“There is no way government alone can raise all the funds that is
needed for infrastructure development, so we need to bridge that gap by
inviting the
private sector.
“This partnership with the private sector will help the government in
delivering this infrastructure; that is the best way to go.”