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How Buhari can succeed, by Nebo

Former Minister of Power Prof. Chinedu Nebo spoke with reporters in Ikole –Ekiti, Ekiti State, shortly after his installation as a honorary chief, on his experience as a key member of the Jonathan administration and expectations about the Buhari government. ODUNAYO OGUNMOLA was there.

What does being conferred with Atayese of Ikole land mean to you?

I really don’t know whether to call it a recognition or chieftaincy title, even though there is a title to it. I feel gratified and extremely happy that the people of Ikole apppreciate the work that I did while serving as Vice Chancellor of the Federal University of Oye-Ekiti. The university has two campuses; one at Oye and the other at Ikole. I feel very happy that even now that I’m no longer in office, they chose to recognise me.

How do you react to the belief that President Buhari’s body language has led to improved power supply?

I don’t know the kind of body language that would turn around the system that took many years to put in place and change it. Nobody’s body language did that. The fact is, those who were sabotaging the power sector decided to stop. Only God knows who was doing it before,because as we talk today, not a single bursting of the gas pipeline has occurred since President Buhari’s inception. So, if it is the body language that is making the haters and traitors of Nigeria to stop, glory be to God. But, I don’t think so; I think it is sabotage. Some people were orchestrating the sabotage because they didn’t like the previous government and now that previous government is no more, they feel that that they have achieved their aim, because everything you are seeing today is a labour of the past adminsitration.

The current administration has not added any value to the current power situation in the country.

Do you believe that the Igbo have been sidelined in key appointments so far?

There is the humour in everything, if you want to calm tensions. I use to describe three or four types of caps: the type my Yoruba brother here is wearing is what I call the OPC solidarity cap, the type I used to wear, I call it the marginalisation and the type that our Hausa brothers wear is what I call the power shift cap. So, I use to describe the various caps to depict the place where you are coming from. You see, the Igbos are essentially marginalised, there is no doubt about that. But, President Buhari hasn’t finished his appointments and I believe that by and large, he is going to accommodate the Igbos in his appointment. So, I don’t think there is any reason for anybody to worry over Buhari. Of course, he might be slow in doing some things, but the Igbos should also realise that the government job is not the best. My thoughts, my prayer for my Igbo people is that we should rather be the Taiwan or Japan of Africa by looking to the President to provide the enabling environment for such thing, because we need to be in areas of our best capacity and I believe industrialisation is that area.

So, I believe that Buhari would eventually open the door for the Ndigbos. Of course, you know that the Igbos did not vote for him during the elections, so we understand why he is taking his time in appointing them. But, because he is the father of the whole nation now, we expect that he would open the doors for all. We are all Nigerians, whether you voted for him or not; this is the time for us to come together and work to develop the country; that is the way to build a formidable nation.

What should President Buhari do to consolidate on the gains in the power sector?

President Buhari would do wonders in the sector if he promotes enbedded generation and also strengthen the transmission infrastructure. Each power plant takes years of gestation; three, four, five or six years to build a 25400 megawatts station.

That is one thousand megawatts in a year; and you can do 100 of them, which would translate to 2000 megawatts in a year. So, Nigeria can leapfrog by doing embedded generation and one advice that I wish to also give is to change the requirement for licensing from one megawatts to five megawatts; so that it would not be necessary ask for a licence generate less than five megawatts. Today, one requires licence to generate one megawatts and that doesn’t give room for industries that need only two or three megawatts; they go through the rigour of procuring a licence. But, if you fix it at five MW, it would make the country leapfrog. So, I believe embedded generation and the strengthening of the transmission infrastructure so that the power that is generated is easily transmitted. Embedded generation is something that is wonderful because you don’t need the transmission, it goes straight to distribution; it can be captive power where you just give to manufacturing clusters, agricultural clusters, free trade zone clusters and things like that and you just give them power wihout any encumberances. The President should very strongly support the privatisation exercise.

If invited to serve in any capacity under President Buhari, would you oblige?

Well, I’m not God. The body language that many are talking about does not indicate that they are looking for any of us. Many of us are getting jobs internationally, but am not really interested. I think I have paid my dues; I have been Vice Chancellor twice in two federal universities, and the universities I headed are among the top 16 in this country. I have paid my dues, I have been Minister of Power and by the grace of God, I helped to midwife the privatisation exercise that is improving the power sector now. I think I have done well. So, if I’m invited and I pray about it and the Lord gives me the leading, I would be happy to serve my country and I must be frank with you, I think I really deserve to be given time to do my own things now that I still have a lot of blood in my body, and strong enough to continue for several years. I should be allowed to set up my own company, you know, do things that I know would be better for the country, would help create jobs for the young people because I will never stop mentoring the young people. I will always mentor the young people, whether in engineering, the power sector or especially the academia.

After all these, what is next?

What I’m doing now is to set up an engineering consulting firm and I have been talking with international partners who are interested. And a lot of things would have to be done on the Nigerian power sector because I think one of the greatest ways of leapfrogging in industrial revolution is to get better power supply and because I remember it was when I was Minister of Power that a new impetus would be the Nebo Energy and I want to see the Nebo Energy to take on a very critical stand in the entire country I would like to help the government to achieve that and would also like to personally ensure that that happens because I know Nigeria would benefit tremendously from it and at the same time, because of my deep concern about the marginalisation of the poor Nigerian child whether in the village or rural areas or those who didn’t go to school where they are supposed to, I also want to be invloved in developing the educational curricular and developing technical digitals, devices that would help young people be able to pass their school certificate well, be able to pass their JAMB well and be able to go to the university.

Who is your inspiration?

My inspiration is my Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ because He is the greatest mentor. Somebody who could pick up people who could have thought that they were worthless and bring them to a place of global prominence as His apostles and disciples, that is mentoring and if you look at the Holy Bible, you would see God, our heavenly father, mentoring people, whether it is Abraham, or Isaac, or Jacob, or Daniel or Joseph or any of those prophets and even the kings who were obedient. So, mentoring I thing is very critical because all of us need mentoring. You could be very bright but if you don’t have a mentor who would guide you. Mentors are catalysts that help the mentored get to the top. I like to see young people mentored. To the glory of God I have mentored many who have become Vice Chancellors now. Many of those who worked with me while I was leading the varsities are now V.C themselves. These were people who were my right hands when I was serving and they have become V.Cs of universities not just in the ones I have served, and I give God the glory for that. And I have some in my field of engineering that I have mentored too. Some are also in the priesthood too. I am sure you know that some of those vibrant preachers in this country are engineers. Yes God is my inspiration and I think that one of the ways we can create a generation that is coming after us and would do better than we are doing now is to encourage them, and give them a shoulder they can lean on or a back they can climb on so that they can get their target.

October 21, 2015
Why power supply improved under Buhari, by Nebo

Former Power Minister Prof. Chinedu Nebo has attributed the nation’s improved power supply to efforts of former President Goodluck Jonathan.

He argued that it would be wrong for Nigerians to attribute the improvement in power supply to President Muhammadu Buhari’s body language and his anti-corruption stance.

The former minister, who served as the pioneer vice chancellor of the Federal University, Oye Ekiti (FUOYE) before he was appointed minister, said Jonathan did his best to transform the power sector, but was frustrated by saboteurs.

Nebo spoke in Ikole Ekiti on Saturday, where he was conferred with an honorary chieftaincy title of the Atayese of Egbeoba kingdom by the Elekole, Oba Ajibade Adewumi Fasiku.

The traditional ruler also honoured the ex-minister’s wife, Felicia, with the title of Yeye Atayese of Egbeoba kingdom.

They were honoured for their contributions to the establishment of the FUOYE’s Faculty of Engineering in Ikole town during Nebo’s tenure.

Nebo said: “Some said it was Buhari’s body language that brought the improvement, but I didn’t know what they meant. You can see that these saboteurs have stopped regular bursting of the gas pipes that powered the electricity since President Buhari came on board. Some people did not want Jonathan to succeed.

“Some of these people were doing this great disservice because they did not like President Jonathan. The regular supply is Jonathan’s

labour. The present administration has not added any value to the sector and Nigerians must appreciate this.

“President Buhari will do wonders if he strengthens embedded generation and built more infrastructure for transmission of power.

“He should also change the threshold for licensing from one megawatt to five megawatts because the former has no incentive for investors and I believe Nigeria will leapfrog from 4,000 megawatts to something more appreciable, if this is done.”

On the perceived marginalisation of the Southeast from key appointments made so far, Nebo appealed to the people of the zone to be patient with the President.

He noted that the lopsidedness would be corrected in the next appointments.

The Elekole said the conferment of the titles on Nebo and his wife was in acknowledgement of their contributions to the university and the town’s development.

October 12, 2015
64 million Nigerians are mentally sick- Nebo

Former Power Minister, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, Monday in Enugu rated governments at various levels low in the area of psychiatric and mental health care.

He said this was worrisome considering that some medical scholars have revealed that in a population of 160 million or thereabout, “it is speculated that 64 million Nigerians suffer from one form or the other of afflictions of mental illness- deserving attention”.

Nebo spoke as a guest lecturer at the 2nd Public Lecture organized by the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu in collaboration with the West African College of Nursing.

Speaking on the theme: “Psychiatric and Mental Health in Nigeria: Challenges and Prospects”, the former minister said whereas government had done much in the area of Primary Health Care, much was yet to be done in the area of psychiatric and mental health.

“I will confess that while Government has built modern diagnostic centres, dialysis and ophthalmological centres, and constructed more than 710 Primary Health Care Centres throughout our political wards in Enugu State, we are only beginning to give priority towards optimizing and modernizing our Psychiatric Mental Health Institutions in the State to meet required demands.

“Despite the efforts of all levels of government in the medical sector of our nation, Nigerians still grapple with many social challenges, including poverty, high level of unemployment and other social pressures.

“The prevalence of these situations have been escalated by the fact that there is high level of poor knowledge and understanding of the malaise of mental health disorder and the positive treatments required by the growing population of mentally ill patients,”he stated.

He identified causes of mental illness to include genetic composition, early development, neurological and psychological experiences and environmental stresses.

While calling for increased awareness on the treatment and management of mental disorder, Nebo said “the belief that many Nigerians seem to hold that mental disorder is a result of supernatural forces and, therefore, only responds to cure through traditional practices and supernatural incantations- must give way and face the realities of modern conditions, which in fact, produce the stresses that lead to different level of mental conditions”.

He called for adequate funding for research and training of mental health manpower, stressing that “this will increase our output of psychiatric nurses and create more positions for residency training in psychiatric”.

Nebo equally advocated for community based mental health care services, total integration of the mental health care into the Primary Health Care System and periodic review of legislation governing the care of the mentally ill.

The Chief Medical Director of the Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Enugu, Dr. Jojo Onwukwe said the institution was the only one of its kind, East of the Niger, with staff strength of 1000 workers, including eight consultants specialist psychiatrists, more than 400 psychiatric nurses and 27 resident doctors.

Enugu State Governor, Rt. Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was represented at the event by his commissioner for special duty, Mrs. Rita Mba, while former Governor Sullivan Chime, represented by his son, Nnamdi Chime, was inducted into the institution’s hall of fame.

August 31, 2015
Ochepe, Chidoka, Nebo give scorecards

Three ministers, Sarah Ochepe (Water Resources), Osita Chidoka (Aviation) and Prof. Chinedu Nebo (Power), gave their score cards yesterday in Abuja.

They spoke at the Public Affairs Forum organised by the office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, giving the Federal Government a pass mark.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President, Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe, said the Jonathan administration had taken significant steps in the last four years to improve the quality of life of Nigerians.

Mrs. Ochekpe said her ministry engaged in the construction, operation and maintenance of dams to improve water supply, hydropower, irrigation, fishery development, flood control, tourism and recreation.

“Out of the 37 completed dams, 16 are with hydropower potentials capable of generating 135.15 megawatts of electricity has recorded 87% completion”, she stressed.

“The ministry sees irrigation as key to the attainment of food security due to the fact that irrigation has the potential of increasing the agricultural productivity tenfold. Irrigation is also important for employment generation and poverty alleviation in rural areas.

“The ministry through these irrigation facilities has supported the nation’s food security programme with 3,013,296 metric tonnes of assorted food and cash crops valued at over N45.0 billion”, she said.

She said the ministry provided 4,940 water supply facilities nationwide from 2010 to date.

Prof. Nebo said significant steps had been taken to improve power supply situation in the country. He said a number of existing projects have been completed and new ones under construction.

One of them, he said, was the NIPP projects in Kaduna, which is almost completed, while other areas of power generation have been explored, including coal in places like Enugu, Benue, Kogi and Gombe, which could generate more than 4000 megawatts.

According to him, the president will on November 6, launch the apprenticeship scheme to give 200 young engineers, technicians and even secondary school leavers opportunity to participate in the value-chain as well as bring about homegrown capacity.

He said other projects costing several billions of naira have reached advanced stages of completion in places like Lagos, Kano, Abia, Imo, Anambra, Akwa Ibom, among others, which he said are funded by the World Bank.

He added that these projects would generate about 50,000 megawatts by 2015, pointing to the construction of several injection substations.

October 31, 2014
Nebo, Amsoun seek more investment in power

The Minister of Power, Prof Chinedu Nebo and the Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday advised more Nigerians to invest in the power industry to address the lingering electricity problems in the country.

They spoke during the ground breaking of 90mega watts plants in Magboro, Ogun State. Nebo said more Nigerians especially those involved in the oil and gas sector should build more power plants to increase supply to the national grid.

He said investments in the sector should not be left in the hands of a few Nigerians, arguing that the problems in the sector required that more people go into the electricity generation and distribution.

He explained that Ogun State boasts of many plants because of its belief that power is critical to the development of the economy.

He said President Goodluck Jonathan had promised to commission the plant by December 2014 as part of efforts to improve electricity production in the country.

He said: ‘’Bresson AS Nigeria, the company behind the 90 megawatts power plant has promised to increase the megawatts to between 250Mw to 300Mw in the next few years. This shows the commitment of the company and the Ogun State government to make the area more industrialised. ‘’

Also, the state governor, Senator Ibikunle, said greater investments in the power sector would help in galvanising the economy.

Ibikunle, who was represented by his Special Adviser on Energy, Mr Taiwo Fagbemi, said poverty would reduce, once Nigeria could get the energy sector right. He said there are 12 licence operators in the state who have demonstrated the need to improve electricity supply to the national grid.

He said the government’s investment in infrastructure was evident by massive road repairs and construction in recent times.

July 12, 2014
Increase access to electricity crucial to Nigeria devt – Nebo

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, on Tuesday said increase access to electricity was crucial and fundamental to economic and social development of Nigeria.

Nebo made this known at the “1st African International Conference/Workshop on Application of Nanotechnology to Energy, Health and Environment’’, at the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka.

Represented by Mr Albert Okorogu, his Senior Special Assistant to Access to Power and Renewable Energy, Nebo said about 30 million households in Nigeria had no access to electricity.

Nebo quoting the United Nations said about 600 million people of Sub-Sahara Africa lacked access to electricity.

“In Nigeria, 30 million households have no access to electricity. This is the reason why the Federal Ministry of Power is rolling out comprehensive roadmap on access to power.

“This roadmap will systematically connect households through grid and off-grid solutions,’’ he said.

Nebo said that President Goodluck Jonathan had in January inaugurated “Operation Light Up Rural Nigeria Initiatives’’, as part of efforts to ensure that all households had access to electricity.

“The pilot programme will provide energy-efficient lighting to homes, streets and community centres and villages with up-to-dates solar technologies.

“There is plan to replicate this pilot project across the 36 states of the federation,’’ he said.

He said that solar system made from nanoparticles had been used to produce steam, purify water and disinfected dental device.

According to him, the exploitation of nanotechnology in Nigeria will provide sustainable solutions to our environment, social responsibility,overall wellbeing as well as increase access to electricity.

The minister commended the organisers of the conference, noting that nontechnology had helped in nanofabrication of energy storage devices to energy generation technologies which had resulted in energy efficiency.

In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor of UNN, Prof. Bartho Okolo, expressed optimism that the conference would proffer solutions to some of the challenges facing the sector.

“I am optimistic that the conference will come out with solutions to fast tracking technological development in the country,’’ Okolo said.

Earlier, the Head of Department of Physics and Astronomy in the University, Prof. Rose Osuji, expressed appreciation to local and international partners for their efforts to ensure that the conference was a success.

Osuji said that economies of developed countries had strong base in nanotechnologies, and stressed the need for Nigeria to embrace the technology.

“There is need to put in place strong political will, relevant national policies and sustained funding for research and development in this country.

“I commend our local and international partners, who in their various contributions, made this conference to be a reality and success,’’ Osuji said.

March 25, 2014
Nebo and the power sector demons

Quintus Fabius Maximus Verrucosus, was a Roman General. In 217 BC, he was faced with the huge and intimidating task of defeating Hannibal, the Carthaginian General, who had invaded his country. Weighed against the invading army, Fabius’ troops had no chance at all. But fight he must, lest Rome be overrun.

Therefore, he had to devise a strategy. He avoided pitched battles and frontal assaults in favour of wearing down his opponent through a war of attrition and indirection. While evading decisive battles, he employed the tactics of harassing the soldiers of Hannibal in small columns by taunting them and causing them to pursue him through the hills until they got tired, without actually fighting.

It worked. In the end, Hannibal, left with a disorientated, dispirited and totally dishevelled army, in spite of having the numbers, superiority of firepower and experience, lost the war. But before this happened, many Romans were totally disenchanted with this strategy. Not only was it novel in the history of warfare, its workability was highly in doubt. They preferred the open, frontal confrontation they were familiar with, no matter how dangerous and risky.

To underscore their misgiving, the Roman Senate voted for Fabius’ removal and his replacement with another General, who would do exactly what they expected – confront Hannibal in direct battle. Step in Gaius Terentius Varro, who did just that. The resultant battle of Cannae was disastrous. The Romans not only lost, but continued to lose many other battles that followed, which took a toll on not only on the soldiers but enhanced the danger the country faced.

Having learnt their lesson in a hard way, they had to return to the Fabian option, which eventually led to the vanquishing of the Carthaginian warlord.

Today Nigeria seems to face a similar situation in the power sector of the Nigerian economy, where Professor Chinedu Ositadinma Nebo, its helmsman, has been trying to accomplish the mandate handed him in February this year by President Goodluck Jonathan in satisfying the yearnings of Nigerians for uninterrupted power.

How would the minister vanquish this powerful force without destroying the house like a bull being forced out of a china shop? This has been the abiding question since he appeared on the floor of the Senate during the screening for the job and promised Nigerians that he was going to exorcise the demons and evil spirits in the sector.

Well a particular view believes that the best way was for him to draw out his bayonet and begin to chase anybody in sight, who he suspects belongs to the cabal he described above. That he has not done this thus far seems to have incensed them extremely, just like in some tendencies in Rome over the strategy of Fabius.

That bitterness was conveyed in the most forceful manner in a recent treatise entitled Of Nebo and his Demons, which appeared in a powerful Nigerian newspaper and authored by an equally powerful Nigerian writer, recently. So infuriated was the writer against the minister, that he was castigated to no ends for lacking the “fighting spirit” and not having the “foggiest clue” of how to do his job that the writer recommended his immediate removal.

To underscore the obviously manifest danger in this recommendation, the writer even went ahead to identify those Nebo should square up to, to prove his “fighting spirit.” And who were they? They include the chairman of the board of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Hamman Tukur, for the twin reasons of allegedly refusing to report to the minister and his refusal to allow Manitoba Hydro International, the Canadian firm employed to manage the transmission architecture of the power sector carry out its mandate, because the managers of the TCN’s hunger to award “inflated contracts;” the Vice President, Namadi Sambo, for not lifting a finger to help because he had never been a “fan” of the Manitoba idea; the Minister of Petroleum resources, Dame Dieziani Allison-Madueke, for her alleged tolerance of perceived incompetence in the her ministry and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), captured in the inability of those in the oil and gas sector to supply gas to the thermal power stations; and then the labour unions in the sector, for allegedly shifting the goalpost in reaching an amicable settlement over their entitlements.

Now, assuming but not conceding that this is the real picture, does Nebo’s option in proving his “fighting spirit” lie in stepping into the gallery for a fighting match with these alleged tendencies? Is that the only way to prove that he has the “foggiest clue?” For those with some “foggy clue,” one of those we are talking about here is the second most powerful Nigerian. How could anybody with the “foggiest clue” of government operation, not only in Nigeria but anywhere in the world recommend such a clearly suicidal duel for the minister and claim to be pointing the way forward? In fact, would the author not be helping the process more by simply pointing these people out to Nigerians as the culprits instead of the strange conclusion of asking for Nebo’s head?

Again, assuming, but not conceding that this is the picture, would it not be safer for the minister to try persuading this powerful force(s), or at best employ the Fabian option, if he must fight, to nibble at their weapons in the attempt to wear them out to submission? Pray, how would the minister’s immediate sack, which the author recommended otherwise solve these problems and conduce the immediate magic envisaged for Nigerians?

But the true picture is quite different from what the author tried to paint apart from the fact that there are still a lot of challenges in the power sector. For one, beside the primordial enemies known to all Nigerians, the minister is actually working in agreement with other stakeholders and has by that made clearly manifest inroads to the heart of the problem of power delivery, albeit, quietly and silently. On the contrary, the Manitoba issue has been settled and the group has since been issued with the Schedule of Delegated Authority (SODA), apart from inaugurating the TCN board. Likewise, the labour issues have also been settled and the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) workers are currently awaiting their pay cheques. It is no longer news that the new owners of the generating (GENCOs) and distribution (DISCOs) arms of the PHCN have since paid up the 25 per cent of the cost of the companies and are on the verge of paying up for the remaining 75 per cent. It is also true that in spite of the challenges in gas supply, power generation has actually been upped rather than dipped.

Yes, the transmission component is still a huge challenge, occasioned by the innocuous and the substantial, which is being addressed also. The clearing of the foliage along the transmission lines, one of the hidden but serious problems, has since begun. On the larger scale of expanding the transmission capacity, the minister is getting a lot of assistance from his employers for funding, which is one of the major factors.

In this regard, the minister has been able to obtain an immediate N5billion relief from the federal government from the N13billion promised for minor purchases and maintenance of the GENCOs and DISCOs, currently gasping for financial breath, because they were not captured in this year’s budget on the assumption that the new owners would have taken over by December last year, one of the problems the minister inherited. Besides, he has almost concluded arrangements to secure a $3.7billion for the expansion of the transmission architecture of the TCN, to be concluded in 2016.

In all, the destination of the journey is the takeover of the power sector by private owners, which is expected to happen in a few months time, given the extensive work already covered. This is the true picture.

July 25, 2013
Korean firm to inject $30b into Nigerian power sector

The Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo, yesterday said that a Korean firm – HQMC, Korea Company Limited – is ready to inject $30billion into the Nigeria’s power sector for the next 10 years.

According to him, the investment is expected to culminate in a quantum leap of power generation by 10,000mw.

He spoke during the signing ceremony of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the firm in Abuja.

Nebo said this addition was a laudable effort, describing it as “truly visionary which is in line with the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Transformation Agenda.

He said the addition of 1,000mw of solar power yearly for the next ten years would give the nation the required energy mix needed for sustainable development, adding that this scenario would also enable the spread of power across the country.

In a statement signed on behalf of the ministry by Deputy Director, Press, Grace Njoku, Nebo also said Nigerians, even in the rural areas, would benefit immensely from the proposed project.

The statement further said the project of this magnitude would provide Nigerians with job opportunities and skill acquisition that would positively impact on our youths.

“So, Nigeria, as an emerging economy, is set to provide the best market for direct foreign investment, especially in the power sector,” the minister said.

Prof. Nebo expressed optimism that his ministry would continue to create more avenues for foreign investment and participation, so as to ensure the desired turn-around in the fortunes of the power sector.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, said the MoU signing event was part of efforts geared towards the realization of the sector’s desire for more foreign investment.

Also speaking at the event, the Managing Director of HQMC Korea, Mr. Moon Sang Kim, harped on the determination of the company to make a success of the project.

June 1, 2013
Chinese firm to build 20,000mw plant

Chinese firm plans to build a 20,000 megawatts electricity generating plant in Nigeria, Minister of Power Prof. Chinedu Nebo said at the weekend.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo, also at the weekend, said the government has approved $3.7b to boost power transmission to 20,000mw.

It was not, however, clear whether the cash is in support of the proposal by the Chinese firm.

Sambo spoke in Canada during a meeting with the Nigeria-Canada Association Greater Toronto Area.

Nigeria generates less than 4,000mw of electricity which Nebo, who spoke during a meeting with a British business delegation led by the Lord Mayor of London, Roger Crifford, described as abysmally low.

The minister said Nigeria needed to generate 200,000mw to achieve the same energy per capital as South Africa – Africa’s largest economy.

Nebo said flared gas will power the plant, which one of the biggest power generating companies in China is proposing to build.

He said the power sector, with its huge potential, has sufficient space for many investors, including in renewable energy, coal to power, among others.

Nebo said: “One of the largest power generating companies in China is talking to us. The market is open. We are looking at Europe and Asia and beyond.”

He added that a South Korean firm is also working with the Federal Government to build 1, 000mw of solar energy annually for the next 10 years as part of the energy mix component of the power sector reforms.

The minister said: “We need a robust energy mix. For security purpose, as a nation, it is not expedient to have a source or two. We need a good mix of power. We now have wind turbines; solar power too is being commissioned, but we are still far (behind), considering our potentials.”

“Apart from GE (General Electric), the Asians are more in a hurry. That’s why we are urging investors from the UK to buy into the power sector. Those who take the first initiatives now stand to benefit more as had happened in the telecoms sector.”

Lord Mayor Grifford told reporters he was disappointed that UK investors were not particularly involved in the Nigerian power sector. He promised to look into that on his return to his country.

Sambo, according to a statement yesterday by his Senior Special Assisant, Umar Sani, spoke to a group of Nigerians on happenings in the country in infrastructural and social development.

Sambo said the Jonathan administration was committed to the provision of the necessary infrastructure and that efforts were being made in power supply, transportation, aviation , ICT , agriculture, healthcare services, educational advancement and good governance.

He urged Nigerians in the diaspora to come home and be part of the new horizon. He appreciated the contributions of those in the diaspora to national development and said that it was in recognition of their contributions that a diaspora bond of N1 billion was set up and requested them to key into it.

The President of the Nigeria Canadian Association, Fabian Nwoha, expressed the association’s desire to contribute positively to the nation’s development.

But he pointed out that they were reluctant due to the reported negative incidents and other vices.

He reminded government of its promise to provide a consular office in Toronto to ease emerging diplomatic issues.

Nigerian High Commissioner to Canada Dr. Ojo Madueke hailed the Canada Nigeria Association, saying it represents the future of Nigeria and hoped that its members would export their talent and know-how into Nigeria.

Present were Governors Godswill Akpabio(Akwa Ibom), Mukhtar Yaro (Kaduna), ministers of Education , Internal Affairs and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Chairman Bamanga Tukur.

May 6, 2013
Senate confirms Nebo, Turaki as ministers

The Senate on Wednesday confirmed Mr. Kabiru Tanimu Turaki and Prof. Chinedu Osita Nebo as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

The names of Turaki (Kebbi State) and Nebo (Enugu State) were forwarded to the Senate by President Goodluck Jonathan for confirmation last week.

The lawmakers unanimously gave their nod for the appointment of the ministerial candidates after the nominees were adjudged to have satisfactorily answered questions posed to them by Senators.

Nebo, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, practically turned the question and answer session into a lecture.

He thrilled the lawmakers with mastery of contemporary issues in the country and the way forward.

Asked how he intends to deal with the mafia in the power sector if appointed Minister of Power, Nebo said that he would chase out the demons frustrating the growth of the sector.

He said that some highly placed Nigerians still believe that witches are responsible for the problems in the power sector “but I believe that God will give me the power to chase out the demons in the sector.”

He eulogized the immediate past Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, describing him as a “professional to the core, who was committed and did his best for the power sector but unfortunately something happened.”

The ministerial nominee said that since he is aware that banana peels litter the landscape of the country, he would be careful.

He added that if given the opportunity to serve as Power Minister, he would, God being on his side, chase out the demons in the sector.

The nominee also said that he would study what is on the ground in the sector to enable him determine the best way to deal with problems in the sector.

He also said that power generation for the country is grossly inadequate taking into cognizance the population of Nigeria.

He noted that no house should be connected to the national grid if it is not certified ready for connection.

January 23, 2013