Senate President, Bukola Saraki has suggested that the Babatunde Raji Fashola-led Power ministry has made absolutely no significant progress in the last 18 months.
The minister, who has been widely criticized for under-performance, was among notable figures who condemned the last administration for not being able to solve Nigeria’s power problems.
In October 2014, Fashola reportedly boasted that it was not rocket science to produce electricity.
Saraki, in a series of tweet on Tuesday urged the minister to proffer new models in operating the power sector as the current one will never solve the generation and distribution crisis currently experienced across the country.
As part of a resolve the senate president further directed the Committee on Power to “continue consultations in order to develop a blueprint to solve our power deficit”, as the sector is crucial to the economy.
In December, we met with stakeholders in the power sector to find out why no progress has been made. This sector is crucial to our economy.
— Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) January10″>https://twitter.com/bukolasaraki/status/818807615652249600″>January10, 2017
From the meeting with a few stakeholders in the sector, we discovered that errors were made in the power privatisation process years ago.
— Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) January”>https://twitter.com/bukolasaraki/status/818807905583562752″>January 10, 2017
The model we use to operate our power sector -at generation and distribution- will never solve our electricity crisis. Reform is needed.
— Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) January”>https://twitter.com/bukolasaraki/status/818808271771410433″>January 10, 2017
I have directed the “>https://twitter.com/NGRSenate”>@NGRSenate Committee on Power to continue consultations in order to develop a blueprint to solve our power deficit.
— Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) January”>https://twitter.com/bukolasaraki/status/818808681190002688″>January 10, 2017
If we are going to drive Nigeria’s economic growth and develop our industries, we must resolve the issues in our power sector immediately.
— Bukola Saraki (@bukolasaraki) January”>https://twitter.com/bukolasaraki/status/818809321777725440″>January 10, 2017
In an interview last year, entitled, “Electricity: The price Nigerians must pay, by Fashola”, the minister talked about a myriad of power issues covering pricing, regulation, power purchase agreements, power generation alternatives, and other matters. The interview provided more explanations than specific promises or firm deadlines and offered more shield for the tardy power sector players than succour for the tired electricity consumers.