Jonathan commissions Olorunsogo Power Plant

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has described his positive performance in office as self evident across the various sectors of the Nigerian society,declaring that “Nigerians have refused to accept lies and falsehood been peddled by detractors”

Speaking at the commissioning of the Olorunsogo Phase II Power Station in Ogun state on Friday ,the President said the completion and commissioning of the plant is another manifestation of his commitment to delivering on his promises to complete inherited projects and launch new ones for the benefit of Nigerians.

Noting the challenges in the various sectors, president Jonathan said his administration has delivered substantially on his electoral promises ,pointing out that progress in the power sector cannot be denied going by attestation from local and international stakeholders.

According to him,the commissioning of Olorunsogo plant will increase megawatt available to the national grid and further enhance  the gradually improving power supply situation in the country.

He emphasized that Nigeria is improving and developing under his watch,assuring the nation that if he re-elected on March 28, he will speed up expansionary development policies and innovations for the good of the citizenry.

Briefing the nation on the power plant,the Minister of Power,Prof Chinedu Nebo said  “the commissioning of this power station today, the third in the series of the ten power stations constructed by NDPHC under the NIPP scheme, is no doubt a testament of your administration’s commitment to the reform and development of the Power Sector. 

“Under your bold and purposeful leadership, the Power Sector has recorded major world-acclaimed landmarks in policy direction with the successful privatization of the generation and distribution sub-sectors and significant addition to power generation capacity with the completion of the NIPP projects, the commissioning of one of which is taking place today.  Today’s ceremony is therefore a clear demonstration of your administration’s steadfast follow-through on the projects necessary to realise your vision of bringing power to every Nigerian household.

” It demonstrates the commitment and visible support of your administration to the completion of all on-going projects under various agencies in the Power Sector which will contribute in no small measure to the socio-economic development for the vast majority of Nigerians and the participation of the private sector players in the reform process. All these are in line with the Transformation Agenda of this administration on which the Road Map for the Reform of the Power Sector which was launched by you in October, 2010 is anchored, and on the Electricity Power Sector Reform Act of 2005″, the minister said.

Prof Nebo affirmed that privatization of the power sector is working contrary to insinuations in some quarters,explaining that “the dogged determination of His Excellency, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to go through with the privatization of the generation and distribution assets is now beginning to be borne out to the benefit of the Nigerian electricity consumer.

Minister of State Power Mohammed Wakil speaking with newsmen said ” President Goodluck Jonathan’s records in the power sector is unrivaled” ,citing “the political will demonstrated by the administration in completing and refocusing  inherited and even ill conceived power projects.

” The roadmap to power sector reforms of 2010 has been faithfully implemented under the guidance of Mr President. A lot has been done in the sector and one of such accomplishments is what we are witnessing today. 

” In the next few days,Nigerians will also be briefed on the over 300 rural electrification projects initiated and completed by the Jonathan presidency. Let put politics aside,this administration scores  first in national infrastructure development”, the minister said.

Earlier, the Managing Director  of Niger  Delta Power Holding Company, Mr James Olotu, had told Nigerians that contrary to some media reports,” the power plants like Olorunsogo and others are real and are not photoshops. 

“We read some media reports that pictures of some of our power plants are foreign ones planted to dupe Nigerians. There is no truth in such allegation. You are all live here at Olorunsogo . This is real. President Jonathan’s records in power sector is real”, Olotu said.

Also commenting on the commissioning,the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Power,Dr Godknows Igali said the event is “a continuation of strings of successes the power sector has been recording under the present administration.

” This is another landmark accomplishment for all Nigerians. Our generation capacity is improving; our transmission wheeling capacity has expanded and distribution firms are upgrading their capacity and infrastructures. Our headache – vandalisation is been tackled headlong through renewed and intensive collaboration with communities. And we are recording successes”, Dr Igali said.