The federal government wednesday unfolded what it described
as power sector recovery programme with the aim of creating a more viable and
vibrant power sector. The government also approved
N80 billion for the rehabilitation and construction of many roads and bridges
in 12 states of the federation.
The beneficiary states
are: Oyo, Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau, Zamfara, Kwara, Bauchi, Kano, Enugu, Osun,
Sokoto and Kaduna States.
The government also
approved engineering and consultancy designs for the construction of two access
roads to the second Niger bridge that is under construction. The two roads are
meant to link Asaba in Delta State and Onitsha in Anambra State to the second
Niger bridge.
The construction, which
is expected to last for six months will cost N150.8 million.
These approvals were made
at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President
Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa.
Briefing journalists at
the end of the meeting, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde
Fashola, said approval was also made for power projects relating to the
extension and management of Katsina Wind Energy Farm project. He said the new
recovery power sector plan was meant to enhance the performance of the
distribution companies (DISCOS).
According to him, the
Katsina wind energy project was awarded to an expatriate in 2010 and was meant
to be concluded in 2013 but the project was stalled by the kidnap of the
expatriate whom he said left the country after his rescue and never returned.
However, he said the project had newly been revived.
Fashola, said the power
sector recovery agenda would among others, simplify and reduce cash deficit
which has accumulated as a result of reduction in tariffs by the previous
administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
He also said the agenda
would foster transparency, improve governance in the power sector, address
access to renewable energy, guarantee predictable foreign exchange policy for
the power sector, among others.
“The last contract on
power approved is the power sector recovery programme which we presented to
council. It’s a programme that comprises many policy actions, operational and
financial interventions that need to be carried out by the government to
improve transparency, service delivery, performance of DISCOS, transmission
companies, the entire value change in order to create a more viable power
sector that is private-sector driven.
“Some of the highlights
of the programme are how to simplify and reduce the cash deficits that have
accumulated as a result of previous unilateral reductions of tariff by the
last administration during the running of the elections; how to make the DISCOS
viable, accountable, responsive to customers; ensure stability of the grid and
expansion of the grid and transparency and communication within the sector and
also processes for ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) debts and how to
improve sector governance; our roles in the buzz, the quality of personnel on
the board of the DISCOS.
According to him, the
engineering design for access link roads to the Second River Niger bridge would
be sequel to subsequent award of further works on the bridge. “The design is expected
to be completed in six months and we will start procurement, and as the bridge
advances, we can then connect the two states. The contract sum is N150,840
million,” Fashola added.
Also briefing the
journalists, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Muhammad Bello, said
FEC also approved the take-off of Phase II of Abuja Mass Transit;
construction of link roads in the FCT as well as the continuation of
infrastructural development in Jahi District.
Bello said Jahi District
infrastructure would cost N19.47 billion while another five-kilometre road to
link the ring road lll to Wasa junction with Karshi-Ara-Apo Road would cost
N2.454 billion.
He also said the phrase
II of Abuja Mass Transit Lot 1B (26.77km) which will begin from Ring Road I
would pass through Area 10 to Wuse Market, Berger Junction, Jabi Motor
Park Life Camp and terminate at Gwagwa.
However, a strange
development was witnessed before and after yesterday’s FEC meeting. Before the
meeting took off at 11a.m; the ministers had gathered in the office of
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo for a meeting that lasted for about an hour.
Again, after the meeting
which ended before 2p.m., the ministers returned to the vice-president’s office
to continue the meeting till some minutes after 3p.m.
Asked what prompted the
strange development, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai
Mohammed, said the government reserved the right to decide how it handled its
activities.
Source: Vanguard
No comments:
Post a Comment