With the short and medium-term
programmes mapped out for the power sector in the country, President
Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday said Nigerian children soon would no longer
depend on generators for electricity supply.
Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony
of the N162.9bn Zungeru Hydro Power Dam in Niger State, the President
said many of the programmes mapped out for the power sector had been
attained and surpassed, and that the issue of generators would soon be a
thing of the past.
He said, “Today, many short and medium
programmes have been attained and surpassed. The long term programmes of
the power project are underway.
“Our children must not live in a country
where they get individual generators to generate light for them. This
government is ensuring the regulation of the power sector to ensure
power for all.”
Jonathan said his administration was
working towards the regulation of power where the use of individual
generators would be outlawed.
The President stated that the problem of
funding and other obstacles confronting the power sector had been
addressed adequately by his administration, adding that the commencement
of the hydro power dam would encourage agricultural activities in the
state and turn the economy around.
Zungeru Hydroelectric Power Plant in Niger State.
Jonathan, who performed the ground
breaking ceremony for the 700 megawatts plant, said the project was the
largest hydro power station embarked upon by his administration.
“This project will not only revive the economy of Niger State, but will improve the
The President also said a draft bill for
the establishment of the Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas
Development Commission was ready.
Jonathan, however, said he had yet to
see the bill due to his many foreign engagements recently, but gave an
assurance that he would send for it once he settled down.
In his address, the Minister of Power,
Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said the Zungeru power plant had been on the
government’s drawing board since 1982.
According to him, the take-off of the
project has been encumbered by different circumstances, but noted that
the financial challenges had been addressed.
Nebo said, “Today, we have in place not
just the designs, but the funding mechanism of all the major hydro
schemes in the country.”
No comments:
Post a Comment