The Nigerian Senate, yesterday, constituted a panel to probe the management of funds allocated to the power sector since 1999.
The Senate mandated the ad-hoc committee, chaired by Senator Abubakar Kyari {Borno North}, to look into the unbundling of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN and irregularities in the power sector.
The committee has four weeks within which to do its work.
This Senate took the decision following the adoption of a motion on “The disconnection of Maiduguri from the National Grid and General Power Degeneration in Nigeria” sponsored by Senate Leader, Mohammed Ali Ndume.
Also appointed in the committee are Senators Godswill Akpabio, Babajide Omoworare, Mohammed Hassan, Ali Wakili, Mao Ohuabunwa, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, Olusola Adeyeye and Mohammed Shaaba Lafiagi.
The Senate also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to mandate the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to immediately reconnect Maiduguri to the national grid and also urged the government to complete the Mambilla Power Project to improve electricity supply.
Ndume, who sponsored the motion, said he was worried that Nigeria, with a population of over 150 million, produces only 4, 600 megawatts while South Africa, with population of about 40 million people, produces 40,000 megawatts.
According to him, the disconnection from the national grid and degeneration of power supply across the country had affected economic activities because of the collapse of several industries, expressing concern that with an installed power generation potential of about 5000 megawatts, the output distributed today was about 1,950 megawatts of energy.
He said it was disheartening to note that Iran with 70,000 people, generates about 42,000 megawatts, while South Korea with about 35 million people generates about 60,000 megawatts of electricity.
Ndume said Maiduguri and its environs had been completely disconnected since Boko Haram started its campaign, adding that the situation had grounded economic activities.
Ndume said: “I buy diesel to run my generator set which costs me N10, 000 every day.”
“No country can be said to be near development when there is no power. This Senate needs to investigate to give the government needed support.
“For years now, a lot of money has been spent but there is nothing to show for it.’’
Responding, the Senate President, Abubakar Bukola Saraki, noted that besides corruption, lack of power supply had plunged the country into hardship.
He said: “We thought that with the Power Reform Act and unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, we will begin to see a relief with regard to power supply; unfortunately, it is not so.
“The ad-hoc committee we will set up should look at the activities of the DISCOS and what is preventing Nigerians from benefiting from the unbundling of the PHCN.’’
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