The Nation Newspaper

Tag: POWER

  • Senate to probe N213b power intervention fund disbursement

    Senate to probe N213b power intervention fund disbursement

    Senate President Abubakar Bukola Saraki has asked the Senate Committee on Power, Steel Development and Metallurgy to initiate immediate public hearing into the country’s deteriorating electricity generation.

    Electricity generation is said to hover at 3000 megawatts (MW).

    The hearing is to confirm and ascertain claims of non-remittance of funds among the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company (NBET), Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) and Generation Companies (Gencos).

    The committee is also to investigate how the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) paid the N213 billion intervention funds to the power sector and the usage of the funds.

    The Senate President gave the mandate at the weekend at a stakeholders’ meeting aimed at finding answers to the dwindling electricity generation in the country.

    Saraki said the committee should also consider the role of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), whose officials serve as board members in the Discos and Gencos.

    He expressed displeasure with the poor electricity supply, especially its negative impact on growth and the need to pull out the country out of economic recession.

    He feared total collapse of the country’s electricity system, if urgent steps were not immediately taken to remedy the situation.

    Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing Mr. Louis Edozien, who led the stakeholders to the meeting, lamented that power generation has gone down to 3000MW/H from a 7000MW/H generating capacity with a 12000MW/H connected load.

    Discos, Edozien said, are presently remitting about 45 per cent of collectable revenue instead of the performance agreement target of 65 per cent.

  • A power tout called Jammeh

    Their celebrations were notoriously short-lived. The streets of Banjul have gone quiet now and citizens of The Gambia, who had erupted in spontaneous jubilation three weeks ago when their despotic ruler was overrun in an election, have retreated into their shells in mournful silence. With Yahya Jammeh’s recant of his concession of defeat to real estate developer, Adama Barrow, the West African country is effectively staring into the abyss.

    Barrow is the Gambian president-in-waiting, while the global community prospects for ways to egg Jammeh out of power. The opposition candidate’s victory in the recent poll in that country makes his ultimate coronation assured, and has invariably drawn the terminal line on Jammeh’s 22-year authoritarian run in power. But Jammeh has lately doubled down on clinging to the reins and won’t let go easily.

    Indications at the weekend were that the Gambian crisis was approaching a head. Barrow was reported revving up to enact the country’s version of ‘Epetedo declaration,’ whereby he would unilaterally pronounce himself substantive president. Nigeria once travelled that troubled road with democracy hero and uninstalled winner of the June 12, 1993 presidential election, the late Chief Moshood Abiola; and it was a five-year odyssey punctuated with the martyrdom of Abiola and some others, plus the exile and imprisonment of many more through diktats by hardened military strongman, Gen. Sani Abacha. You could say the portents in The Gambia are indeed more dire, because Jammeh is notoriously loathsome of political challenge, disdainful of human rights and free expression, and hot fingered on gun triggers.

    It has been one long journey down democracy road for The Gambia, making the citizens exultant with the promise of a new dawn when Jammeh was handed a shock defeat in the country’s December 1 presidential election. By official scoreline, Barrow won with 263,515 votes to Jammeh’s 212,099 votes. “Having received 263,515 votes of the total votes cast in the election, I hereby declare Adama Barrow duly elected to serve as president of the Republic of Gambia,” Alieu Momarr Njie, chairman of the country’s Independent Electoral Commission had pronounced in Banjul, the capital, penultimate Friday.

    For a country where the recent election offered opportunity for the first change of leadership since a military coup led by Jammeh ousted pioneer president Dawda Jawara in 1994, and the first time that power would change hands by popular election since Independence from Britain in 1965, the news of Barrow’s victory had prompted thousands of Gambians to take to the streets of Banjul in celebration – some on foot and others riding in cars, trucks and on motorbikes – leaving soldiers cultured in Jammeh’s repressive ways palpably confused as they stood by. Many Gambians were reported to have stayed up all night, listening to radio and tallying the vote count by themselves as the figures were being announced at constituency levels. That way, they had a headstart on the likely outcome even before the electoral commission made its call.

    The outcome eventually disproved Jammeh who had exuded confidence, saying his victory was all but assured by God and predicting “the biggest landslide in the history of the country” after he voted on Election Day. But the Gambian ruler had nonetheless aided the public’s euphoria on the heels of the ballot count with his early concession of defeat. Speaking on state television before the electoral commission called the final tally, he acknowledged that the people “have decided that I should take the back seat,” and congratulated Barrow for his “clear victory,” adding: “I wish him all the best and I wish all Gambians the best.”

    Affirming that he would not contest the result because “as a true Muslim who believes in the almighty Allah, I will never question Allah’s decision,” Jammeh had said: “If he (Barrow) wants to work with us, I have no problem with that. I will help him work towards the transition.” Following his pronouncements, the Gambian military leadership congratulated Barrow and pledged the institution’s allegiance to him.

    But the Gambian ruler, only a few days later, lived up to his mercuric reputation by rejecting the same poll results he had unreservedly endorsed. “After a thorough investigation, I have decided to reject the outcome of the recent election. I lament serious and unacceptable abnormalities which reportedly transpired during the electoral process,” he returned to say on state television. Suggesting that the present electoral commission was beholden to the influence of unnamed foreign powers, he added: “I recommend fresh and transparent elections which will be officiated by a God-fearing and independent electoral commission.”

    Meanwhile the military appear to have withdrawn their pledge of allegiance to a Barrow government and have reverted to being tools of repression in Jammeh’s hands. The electoral commission rooted for the scoreline it had declared in Barrow’s favour and soon came under Jammeh’s sleigh of hand – with soldiers taking over its offices last Tuesday. “The military came to my office and said I am not to touch anything and told me to leave,” the electoral commission’s chair, Njie, told reporters, adding: “I am worried for my safety.” Among others, outgoing United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described the occupation of the commission’s offices as an “outrageous act of disrespect of the will of the Gambian people and defiance towards the international community.”

    Either by design or by coincidence, the soldiers’ raid on the electoral commission took place as some Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) leaders were arriving in Banjul to press Jammeh on relinquishing power. The delegation, headed by chairperson of the Authority of Heads of State of ECOWAS and Liberian President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, also included Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, his Sierra Leone counterpart, Ernest Bai Koroma, and outgoing Ghanaian President John Mahama. But it seemed like they made little headway with their mission: “We come to help Gambians find their way through a transition. That’s not something that can happen in one day,” Johnson-Sirleaf was reported telling journalists.

    Under The Gambia’s laws, Jammeh has until January 18 to conclude the transition processes and hand over power to the winner of the December 1 election. But Jammeh’s party, the ruling Alliance for Patriotic Reconciliation and Construction (APRC), has lodged a challenge against Barrow’s victory at the country’s Supreme Court; only that the legal challenge is unworkable as things are, because that court has been dormant since May 2015 when Jammeh sacked its justices.

    Opposition politicians voiced a concern that Jammeh could insist on clinging to power while the legal challenge pends before the Supreme Court. To meet the January 18 deadline, he would need to appoint as many as six judges to the court; but the Bar Association has warned that any appointment of judges by Jammeh to adjudicate a case involving him would be fundamentally unjust.

    Without the judiciary’s intervention, the electoral commission has the last word in Barrow’s favour on the presidential poll. The chairman, Njie, underscored this last week by saying: “The only way they can pursue the commission is through the court, and there is no court.”

    By all accounts, the time is effectively up for Jammeh in the Gambian presidency and he must leave power at once. Even before the latest poll, his claim on the presidency from four previous elections he purportedly won had been dubious, and he had only steered his country and himself deeper into international isolation. But Barrow’s victory in the recent election puts a final nail on all that.

    There have been suggestions that Jammeh might have backtracked on his concession of defeat out of a dread of what awaits him at the hands of the opposition government when it takes power. If that were so, the Charles Taylor abdication model could be helpful in easing him out of Banjul.

    Barrow (is) revving up to enact the country’s version of ‘Epetedo declaration,’ whereby he would unilaterally pronounce himself substantive president

  • 130 power projects abandoned since 2002, says TCN

    130 power projects abandoned since 2002, says TCN

    One hundred and thirty power projects have been abandoned since 2002 due to inadequate funds, Managing Director, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) Dr. Atiku Abubakar said yesterday.

    Abubakar spoke at the Electricity Customers’ Forum, organised by the Eko Electricity in Lagos.

    He assured that this administration will execute  the projects to enable the power sector add value to lives of the citizenry.

    The TCN chief said the Omotosho/Egbin 330/11 KVA line , one of the projects, will be given priority in the 2017 budget.

    “We have the capacity to generate 7, 500 megawatts but we are faced with issues of gas.

    Abubakar said: ”The country’s power generation hovers between 3,000 and 3,300 megawatts due to challenge of inadequate gas supply.”

    Abubakar regretted that this caused generation to shrink to about 3000 megawatts.

    According to him, the government will turn the challenges to opportunities, to spur growth of the sector.

    House of Representatives Committee on Power Chairman Mr. Daniel Asuquo said the lower chamber would cooperate with the Federal Government to ensure the sector’s growth.

    Asuquo hailed owners of Eko Electricity Distribution on initiatives to improve quantity, quality and reliability of supply despite shortfall in allocation from the national grid.

    He said the initiative to source supplementary power through embedded generation options would guarantee greater supply.

    Asuquo said it would also reduce the Disco’s Aggregate Technical, Commercial and Collections Loss, ATC&C;  and urged the company to improve its metering system.

    He added that Eko Electricity mopped up excess power from existing captive generation within its licence area and entered into agreements with Independent Power Providers, to  enhance quality service delivery.

    The lawmaker said the embedded generation options will also improve revenue collection efficiency, distribution and performance.

    Head, Consumer Affairs, Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Mr. Hardley Blue-Jack, assured customers that NERC would improve the sector through regulations.

    Managing Director, Eko Electricity Plc, Mr. Oladele Amoda, said there had been no investment in the sector in 30 years before sale of assets of successor companies of defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to the private sector.

    He said 70 per cent of the assets were dilapidated when they were sold in 2013, adding that investors spurred growth in the sector despite liquidity challenge.

    Amoda said his company would satisfy customers by providing value added services.

    He said the company in the last three years metered substantial number of customers, and ordered 500 transformers to ensure steady supply to customers during Yuletide.

  • Case for the devolution of power

    SIR: Recently a bill seeking to grant states control over mineral resources within their domain passed the second reading in the House of Representatives. The bill titled “A Bill for an Act to alter the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, to vest the control of the revenues derived from minerals, mineral oils, natural gas in, under or upon any land In the States of the Federation and for Other Related Matters” seeks to give much needed realism and impetus to Nigeria’s quest for economic and revenue diversification. The truth is that if Nigeria is to make progress economically and achieve its goal of a sustainably diversified economy and revenue base, then it must reform its political-economic institutions in order to reflect its socio-economic realities and the legitimate aspirations of the different ethnic nationalities that have voluntarily congregated to constitute the Federation known as Nigeria.

    The current quasi-unitary system we currently practice is essentially a system of bondage that has shackled Nigeria’s economic potentials, via the subjugation of its federating units nay states, which otherwise should be the engines and propellers of Nigeria’s march to economic development. Nigeria is currently enmeshed in a recession for which many reasons have been adduced to explain the cause. Of all reasons so far adduced, the most factual and resonating has been that aside the mismanagement and corruption of past thieving administrations, Nigeria remains unhealthily saddled with a deleterious mono-product economy, which is a result of the stifling political and economic system we currently practice. A system that places premium not on productivity and innovation, but on doctored population figures and other Machiavellian schemes designed for the purpose of securing a larger chunk of revenue from the corruptly-termed and dwindling “national cake”.

    It is interesting to also note that in spite of the glaring flaws of our current political-economic system, there are those who opine that Nigeria’s under-development has little to do with the unjust and tragically flawed nature of Nigeria’s political-economic system. They insist that our problems are essentially a function of “poor leadership”. They further assert that all Nigeria needs to reach the Promised Land is “repentance and a change of heart” on the part of our political elite, and the people. The proponents of this school of thought have however failed to ask themselves WHY Nigeria has continually been afflicted with “poor leadership” over the years. Is Nigeria and are Nigerians accursed of God? Are all Nigerians avowed corruption-lovers? The answer to this question is rather obvious: Nigeria’s corrupt political-economic system, as a matter of course, births “poor leadership”, in the same manner as a goat cannot give birth to a lion, neither can an unjust and flawed political-economic system give birth to responsible and accountable leadership.

    The few instances of good governance Nigeria has recorded since the coming into force of this present political-economic system have been nothing but anomalies, this is because the Nigerian state does not have the required mechanisms needed to incentivize or replicate such isolated and rare instances of good governance. There is nothing that incentivizes responsible and accountable leadership in Nigeria. For an average Nigerian elected or appointed public official to muster the will to do the right things he or she must be somewhat of a zealot, with significant political leverage and a singular determination to do what is right and legal, in spite of systemic limitations.

    Whilst appreciative of the critical need for good and purposeful leadership, it is humbly submitted that the long-suffering people of Nigeria can not continue to depend ad infinitum on the emergence of anomalies. We must as a people, nay as a nation, create the requisite political-economic institutions and systems that incentivize good governance, engender social cohesion and advance the economic well-being of all our people, irrespective of the political party or person in power. We must design a system that makes it impossible or at least extremely difficult for the lowest denominators in our polity to emerge as our leaders; and only the reformation of our current political and economic systems will enable that.

     

    • Barrister Ugochukwu Joseph Amasike, 

    Lagos.

  • African leaders and the curse of power

    SIR: South African President, Jacob Zuma, is a controversial figure. In the past few days, the maverick politician has faced lots of opposition from the home front. He has severally faced calls for resignation after it was found out that he has misused 246m rand (£13.73m) of taxpayers on the upgrade of security in his country home. The discovery is an injurious blow to President Zuma, whose presidency has been characterized by copious scandals. While his village lacks access to electricity or potable water, Zuma’s country home project demonstrates audacious but implausible affluence. He was equally accused of uncanny arrogance of power and gross insensitivity as his neighbours were ordered to move home without proper authorization, thereby costing government millions in public fund. Zuma was also indicted of conflict of interest by engaging his private architect who earned a mind boggling 16.5m rand (£922,796) from the project.

    Since the post-colonial era, impunity and astonishing acts of recklessness have, no doubt, become the hallmarks of many African leaders. Though most African nations now operate democracy, but in sharp contrast to democratic principles, most African leaders act in defiant of democratic engagements. In Gambia, the president has been in power for over 25 years. His fresh bid ended in a fiasco at the weekend.

    In Zimbabwe, President Robert Mugabe, 93, remains the country’s ruler since 1980. Various opposition groups, opposed to his prolonged hold on power in the country, have had to contend with serious realties of his iron hold on power. Sadly, a large chunk of Zimbabweans  have continued to live in abject poverty as all economic indicators keep pointing to a nation on the brink of socio-economic collapse. The assumption that no one else but him could steer the ship of the country, at 89 and after 36 years in the saddle, is nothing but a charade as he is no super human.

    The tragedy of the African continent is that most of its leaders, especially those who have little or nothing to offer the people, have continued to tow the ignoble path. Is it not funny that most of the leaders’ whose stay in power have pauperized their people would rather prefer to die in power rather than giving opportunities to others with fresh ideas to rule? For those who argue that Mugabe’s prolonged hold on power is as a result of the love and affection his people have for him, they need to be reminded that Mandela was equally held in high esteem by South Africans and he still voluntarily relinquished power after just one term in office.

    African leaders need to wake up to the frightening poverty situation in the

    This is the time for African leaders to uphold the right concept of power for the good of the society. Government does not exercise power; rather, it is the concept of government, upheld by law, which exercises power.  Democracy will be endangered, when political power actors assume that they wield power, and not, that power wields them.

    In the meantime, Africans should rise up and make their leaders accountable and responsible.

     

    • Tayo Ogunbiyi,

    Min. of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.

  • Power sector loses 4,368Mw to vandalism

    Power sector loses 4,368Mw to vandalism

    The Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) yesterday suffered a colossal setback losing 4,368 mega watts (Mw) as a result of vandalism of gas pipelines.

    It was learnt that the attack at 06:00  yesterday led to the closure of  Geregu I and II, Alaoji NIPP and Odukpani.

    It was also gathered that there was another vandalism on the Escravos Lagos Pipeline Service (ELPS) line and Trans National Pipeline (TNP) that increased gas constraints and  impacted generation negatively.

    Besides, it was gathered that the attacks reduced power supply by 275Mw.

    It was learnt that on the day under review, the Service Operator of the Transmission Company of Nigeria ( TCN) sent out 3,001Mw to the 11 distribution companies (DisCos).

    The electricity market however recorded 0Mw line constraint, 0Mw water management constraint, and 0Mw water management constraint.

    Were there no losses, the sector would have evacuated 7,369Mw to the DisCos.

    Following the losses, the NESI lost about N2.09 billion.

    “On November 29 2016, average power sent out was 3001MWh/hour (down by 275MWh/h). The reported gas constraint was 4368Mw. The reported line constraint was 0Mw. The reported high frequency constraint is 0Mw. The water management constraint was  0Mw. The power sector lost an estimated N2,096,000, 000 on November 29 2016 due to constraints.

    “ Geregu I and II, Alaoji NIPP and Odukpani were shut down as at 600am this morning due to gas constraints. Low spinning reserve may indicate lower grid stability. Further vandalism on the ELPS line and Trans National Pipeline (TNP) has increased gas constraints and  impacted generation negatively. Review of MDA debt submissions underway by the Office of the Vice President,”a source said.

    Meanwhile, in its bid to tackle the paucity of fund in the power sector after a court litigation stalled efforts at increasing its tariff, the Ministry is now brainstorming on other ways of raising revenue for the sector.

    A source said the Minister of Power, Works and Hosuing, Babatunde Fashola has asked the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power to come up with other ideas of injecting more money into the sector.

    According to the source, the government is going to have a recourse to metering, accounting and insistence that the DisCos become efficient to boost their revenue collection.

    Following the new directive, the ministry has resolved to treat international customers like any other customer on the grid since they undertook to work on the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Nigeria Bulk ElectricityTrading (NBET).

    Government has however, directed that the Market Operator (MO)  to collect its arrears from international customers and remit to generation companies via NBET and service provider through the MO.

  • Ghanaian power firm coming to Lagos

    A Ghanian company plans to establish a wiring and transmission equipment factory in Lagos this month to improve power supply in the country.

    The Chief Operating Officer, Reroy Group, Roy Quartey Papafio, told The Nation, during an energy forum in Lagos, that Nigeria was chosen because of its large market.

    He said: “We are already doing business in Nigeria. We have clients in the country, but we are looking at a situation whereby we would operate fully in the country. We have done market survey to know our clients and what they need. The aim is to satisfy the needs of our customers.’’

    Papafio said the company would support contractors in the power distibution chain, the same way it did for contractors in Ghana.

    He said this would improve power supply, create jobs and boost the economy.

    According to him, the plant will, at the onset, create direct jobs for 100 persons and provide thousands of indirect jobs.

    ‘’We want to invest in Nigeria, share competencies in such a way that we would contribute our quota to the development of the country. Often times, we look for skills abroad.

    ‘’Unknown to many of us, there are enough skills in Nigeria and other African countries. We have capacities that are under-utilised in Nigeria and other countries. Once Africans start investing in their continent, they would build skills and create jobs,’’ he added.

    Nigeria and other countries, he said, needed regional cooperation to develop.

  • Senate Committee scores power firms low

    Senate Committee scores power firms low

    The Senate Committee on Privatisation has scored some  privatised electricity companies low, saying they lack good service delivery.

    It, however  praised  the Benin Electricity Distribution PLC (BEDC) for doing well, stating that, it has introduced “innovative measures” to meet customers’ obligations.

    Speaking when the committee and a team from the Bureau of Public Enterprises visited BEDC, the panel chairman, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, said: “Some of the privatised companies are well-run, some average, while some are badly run, but with what we’ve seen so far, about BEDC, I congratulate your management for being one of the well-run companies.”

    Murray-Bruce said the Mrs Funke Osibodu-led BEDC management had done well in community relations, payment platforms and customer services, despite the sector’s challenges.

    “We have seen the excitement of staff at the training programmes of BEDC, an enabling environment and air of camaraderie among management staff, which we have not seen in other places. This shows that the company is well-run, and we do not expect anything less than this, given the pedigree and antecedent of Mrs Osibodu,’’ he added.

    Bruce said the sector was battling with a N900billion debt, high foreign exchange and recession.

    He said he was concerned with how to solve the problems, adding that the committee would organise a public hearing on privatisation of the power sector, to address the problems.

    Mrs. Osibodu  urged the committee to persuade the Federal Government to dollarise the naira price for gas; which is the raw material for electricity production. The government should also take a cue from its Indian counterpart by subsidising  tariff for lower class residential customers.

  • Why power must shift in Ondo, by Oke

    Why power must shift in Ondo, by Oke

    Ondo State Alliance for Democracy (AD) governorship candidate Chief Olusola Oke spoke with reporters in Akure, the state capital, on his agenda for the Sunshine  state and issues that will shape the contest. Excerpts:

    Why do you want to govern Ondo State?

    I contested in 2012 to be governor. there were good reasons for me to contest. These reasons have only multiplied, they have increased, expanded and therefore, so long as those conditions are still prevailing and multiplying, I will be failing in my responsibilities not to come out at this time.

    Ondo State is a state generously loved by God. If we look at the resources available to us, we should be leading; a shining example to others in Nigeria.

    I am talking in terms of natural resources, human resources, agriculture resources; whatever resources you can imagine that would help the development of a state, Ondo state has it in abundance: the largest rich human resources, they are all there, but we are not doing well.

    Why is the state poor?

    A critical assessment of Ondo State today would show that the people of Ondo State are poor. They are not poor in their heads but in their pockets. And I have come to appreciate that over time that poverty of the pocket could also affect the poverty of the head.

    If you traverse the entire landscape of Ondo State today; you cannot find one industry that is producing anything. The concomitant effect of that is that employment cannot be generated anywhere. Government has come to a standstill in terms of the employment of its citizens.

    We need to diversify our economy to be able to get our citizens engaged.

    For seven years running, graduates from the universities have come out in their hundreds of thousands every year with no employment opportunities. The effect today and humiliatingly, most of them have become okada riders, drivers, beggars and idling away at cheap joints of the communities. This is not good for us, it is the recipe for revolution any moment and therefore, I cannot fold my arms.

    You look at our infrastructure, they are in a state of decay, industrialization is zero and these are also affecting the educational sector, the health sector and the total being of the citizens of Ondo State. When you have situation like this, it calls on men who have the fear of God, who have vision, who have direction and who have mission to come on the stage.

    How will you solve these problems?

    I believe that, given the opportunity to be the governor of Ondo State, I can start to re-direct the development of the state. And the starting point will be to examine what is on ground. I already have the database on what is on ground; how do we utilize what we have to solve the problems confronting us. Look at the various industries mid-wifed by the last regime which are in different and varying stages of completion that were abandoned. For whatever justification, I do not share the view that those resources should be allowed to waste away. If they are completed, not only would they add value of their own that can be disposed off at anytime for consideration, they will help in solving the problem of unemployment; they will help in creating wealth for our people; they will help in adding value to the communities where they are situated.

    I believe further that anyone who must lead Ondo State at this crucial period must have the fear of God, must be one that is well known to the people and that knows the length and breadth of the state, and I fit into these descriptions.

    That is why I cannot relent until we sing a new song in Ondo State; until we have a new lease of life; until we have a new sense of direction; that is only when I can say okay, let others run. For now, it is a man that fits my description that Ondo State needs.

    What are the issues that will shape the contest?

    The aggregate opinion of the people of Ondo State is that the present situation is no longer tolerable; they want a change. They want a change that will bring about creation of wealth, that will bring productivity back on the table; a place where a labourer will earn his wages for work done; that will see the emergence of industries in this state; not government initiative alone, but private engagement in flourishing business in the state.

    The people want reduction in poverty level; they want job opportunities; they want infrastructural decay to be addressed. They want our schools to wear good look; they want the transport sector to be organized and less chaotic as it is today; they want the coastline resources to be developed and exploited. They want those abandoned industries to come back on stream. So the desire of the people of Ondo State fits into my dream, it fits into my manifestoes and we are on the same page as to the Ondo we desire and deserve.

    How do you hope to achieve all of these lofty ideas and projects?

    We are not unaware that the economy is in bad shape and Ondo State is worse for it. And of course, it has to be so, when we had enough we never build a solid foundation for the future. Lagos State is said on record to have the fifth largest economy in Africa today because while there was abundance, preparation was made for the future. We didn’t prepare and now we have been caught unaware and therefore, we need a lot of vision to be able to bring about all the good things I have said.

    First, the major burden is debt burden. I may not be able to be too specific but I am told and I readily believe that we are down with over #108billion indebtedness in Ondo State. That is a major challenge to the incoming government. But government liabilities are valid assets. Government assets and liabilities are valid assets; no government can take asset and run away from liabilities. But the way to manage it and reduce the effect on what we are doing is to go back to the negotiation table and reschedule some of those debts. Not in terms of the avoidance of liabilities but to give space so that the amount committed to servicing the debt can be reduced and whatever you get from there can be ploughed back to face the challenges of government Two, we have a lot of assets that are wasting away. The various industries or factories started by the last administration which were nearing completion in their different stages, we should do something urgently to complete them. And then we can bring in private investors, after proper evaluation. The truth of the matter is that despite the depreciation of those assets, the state of our economy, that is, the devaluation of Naira has also helped in enhancing their value; am sure today that if they valued, we will still have a lot of funds tied down there. We can bring in private investors, value and then ratio out the equity participation of the partners and that will leave some money for government to run. They are revenue generating ventures; government will be able to get tax from workers, from some of the facilities and help government to raise more money.

    You can’t ask Ondo State people that area already badly affected by the economy to pay more taxes. Even the existing ones on ground presently, we may have to be review to give it human face.

    Now, the Olokola project is there. we intend to bring that back on the table and it will be able to solve tremendously the problems confronting Ondo State at the moment. The cassava processing industry in Ikoya is there. So we look at the entire projects together, they will all help to begin to re-shape our economy. Because all you need to do at all time is to generate wealth for the people. And of course, the micro-economy, that has to be looked at properly because that is what sustains every economy. We will look at the artisans, in what way can we help them to make their job easier. Once there is productivity, those ones will bounce back automatically because the productivity itself has a way to reverberating and touching on every aspects of the economy.

    So, with vision, with commitment, all these are achievable and once they are achieved, Ondo State will smile again.

    How do you intend to work with the Federal Government to ensure that the people of Ondo State enjoy the dividends of democracy?

    That is why you need somebody like me who operated at that national level, who, therefore, will be able to leverage on his experience to synergies with other institutions; other government levels to be able to get the best for Ondo State What is important at this moment is to get a leader with vision, one with a sense of direction who must have a solid foundation at home upon which you want to leverage. Ondo state is part of Nigeria and good enough, I can say that of President Muhamamdu Buhari. we have a President whose politics is nationalistic and therefore the argument that I want to have a government that will not have access to the centre is not correct. Being isolate depends on the vision and direction of the leadership. I have operated at the centre for decades; therefore, I know where it happens there. It is to have the knowledge, the experience to be able to access what belongs to us; to be able to interact. Of course, I am not becoming governor of Ondo State to fight the federal government. Mine is to collaborate, to synergies with government agencies to get the best for Ondo State So what we get from there is not a question of which party you belong but a question of your vision, direction and the sincerity of purpose.

    If the federal government is aware that you are running a transparent system, whatever is your right you get. Some of the time you don’t get what you are entitled to because our system are not transparent, it’s totally translucent so when they cant see through what you are doing, even when you have a right there, you cant access it. The moment you open your books and are accountable and transparent with what you are doing and able to assemble the egg heads in Ondo state together, you will access anything you are entitled to irrespective of whichever party you belong to.

    In a nutshell, it all depends on the type of leadership in a state. The excellence you see in Lagos was attained when it was under the suzerainty of the ACN, not because it was part of the federal government controlled states. That foundation was laid a long time ago. So it’s a question of leadership really. What the leaders of Lagos state saw years ago which we didn’t see is to our chagrin today.

    So, if you have a man with vision, even regional collaboration would assist us to build a new Ondo State. I assure you that rather than being a minus, it will be a plus for us in Ondo State that the AD which had once ruled this state with great achievements is back on stream. Political party is just a platform to win election; performance in government is another thing entirely. It is the personality. An office is made up of the character of the man that is occupying it.

    Why the choice of the Alliance for Democracy?

    All Alliance for Democracy (AD) is our party. It is a party that has ideal; that is built on principle; that is built on vision. Our founding fathers have kept faith with the people of the State; they have keep faith with the Yoruba people and therefore I believe that is a very solid platform at this critical time when we want to critically transit and there are conflicting and irreconcilable philosophies and ideologies which I will not advance the cause of the people of Ondo State.

    I need to seek a platform that is known to them, that believes in them, that is structured to advance and protect their interests, AD is that party I found in the process.

    There is this apprehension among the electorate that the poll may be rigged…

    It is not the people that are scared but the politician that are scaring them by saying that if it is only one vote that is cast, they will be declared as winner.

    This is ridiculous; our electoral process has grown over time with the introduction and insistent on the use of card readers, and how much of manipulations can anybody do?

    I laugh at politicians who believe that this is APC primaries which they can rig with ease. We are talking of election and so this threat of “we will rig and win at all cost” is a misplaced one. I am busy campaigning out there, while they are in the comfort of their homes and offices threatening the people that they will rig.

    People that want to rig election must be ready for the consequences of such. But this election is not available for rigging. Power now resides with the people; they will determine who they want. When you delude yourself believing that you can do as you like and shut the gates of mercy to mankind, the consequences are there for you.

    I have examined the electoral regulations, I have examined what happened elsewhere and I have not seen how the issue of federal might has come to play.

    And we have a President; we must give it to him, who does not believe in this rigging his party members are preaching.

    Those who believe in snatching boxes, they should know that that belong to the past; those who think that results can be manufactured for them to write and announce will face the consequence.

    I am relying on the strength of the people of the Ondo State for this election, that is why till the last day, I will relate with them. Let them come out and cast their vote and let somebody come and attempt to manipulate it. They are jokers, the concept of federal might doesn’t exist anywhere; it is an illusion.

  • ‘Why access to power remains poor’

    Nigerians are not getting enough electricity because of the few investors in the sector, Vice President, Green Electric, a France-based Renewable Energy firm, Dr Albert Okorogu, has said.

    In a telephone interview, he listed other reasons as low level of confidence by investors in the sector, huge interest rates imposed by banks on loans and frictions between the investors and the community, where the project will be sited.

    He said: “Many power projects are abandoned across the country because there is no money to finance them.The banks are not ready to provide loans to investors in the sector. Often times, banks made investors to repay the loans at double-digit rates of between 25 and 28 per cent, and short tenor. Cases abound where the Chief Executive officers (CEOs) of banks prefer to lend to bigger investors, and not smaller ones who are in the sector.

    He said generation, transmission and distribution of electricity have suffered neglect in recent times, adding that no government could provide electricity for its people once there are problems in the three areas.

    He said the grid needs repair to provide power to the 11 electricity distribution companies (DisCos) for supply to their customers.

    He urged the government to invest in renewable energies, such as solar, coal and wind to reduce burdens on the grid, arguing that renewable energy is key to the growth of the sector.

    “Access to power by people living in the urban and rural areas in Nigeria is very low. In the rural areas, access to power is very bad.The rural dwellers neither enjoy power from the grid nor electricity from solar and other forms of renewable energies. This is the reason behind poor living conditions of people in the rural areas,” he said.

    Okorogu said many investors would have invested in 100 kilowatts, 200 kilowatts and 300 kilowatts of electricity in rural areas, if they have the money.

    He said when a company either through solar or wind generates, for instance 100 kilowatts of electricity in rural areas, such firm has helped in boosting the socio-economic activities of the people.

    He urged the Federal Government to provide an enabling environment for investors in both grid and off-grid electricity generation, noting that only holistic and well implemented policies would revive the nation’s power sector.

    Okorogu, also a former Executive Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Limited that oversees National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP), said besides communal clashes, stable power would not be realistic if the government and stakeholders fail to develop the sector well.

    The sector generates about 3,500 megawatts of electricity, which implies that Nigeria has a long way to go to meet its targets of 20,000 megawatts of electricity by 2020.