Vice-President, Namadi Sambo, has noted that the decisions made by the President Goodluck Jonathan administration in reforming Nigeria’s power sector, through the privatisation of successor companies of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, and building of new power plants through the National Integrated Power Projects, NIPPs, would be judged fairly by history.
Delivering a remark before inaugurating a 330/132/33kV transmission substation built by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, NDPHC, under the NIPPs in Gwagwalada Abuja, Sambo noted that the choices taken by the outgoing government in its electricity policy were based on sound professional advice and that the decisions were taken majorly in the interest of Nigerians.
He pointed out that regardless of whatever misgivings that the Jonathan government might be getting from people, it opted for the best choice of actions that it thought would help it progress the country’s electricity systems with tangible and long lasting impacts.
This was as he insisted that the government in line with such sound decisions had upon the privatisation of the PHCN, also moved rapidly to plug obvious weaknesses in the transmission system which was identified as the possible points where the reform could be derailed. This, he said, led to the construction of transmission facilities by the NDPHC amongst others.
According to Sambo, “I want to seize this opportunity to assure all Nigerians that all the decisions and project implementation in both Niger Delta Power Holding Company and the National Council on Privatisation, are taken on the basis of sound professional advice and sound decisions to ensure that we succeed in Nigeria in providing power successfully for the benefit of Nigerians and the development of the country.
“In this spirit, I enjoin you all to solidify these great achievements and be patriotic in protecting public assets entrusted in to your care as part of your civic responsibility against misuse and vandalism, so that generations yet unborn will not only benefit from the project but shall build on legacies that we have bequeathed on them. It is only when these assets are preserved that our great efforts will be consolidated.
“Let me also reiterate our firm belief and respect for democracy and it’s norms and values and our collective commitment to the progress and prosperity of our dear nation.
“In this regard, we shall continue to make our contribution to the development of our dear country as patriotic citizens. We are confident that posterity shall place us on the right side of history,” he stated.
The vice president, who also touched on the benefits of the transmission substation to the power sector, explained that prior to its construction, Abuja and surrounding states like Nasarawa had depended on a 330KV double circuit transmission loop from Shiroro for electricity supply.
He added that with the new substation, power transmission will be strengthened, stabilised and distributed to its beneficiary areas.
Sambo went on to commend the management of NDPHC for exhibiting what he described as a thorough and professional execution of their mandate, adding that the next phase of the NIPPs in construction of hydro power generation plants up north would help upgrade the country’s electricity generation capacity to as much as 20,000 megawatts.
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