Power sector on fast track to deliver service to Nigerians – Minister

The Minister of Power, Mr Abubakar Aliyu, said the power sector was on a fast track to delivering service to Nigerians and urged stakeholders to work together to achieve the feat.

Aliyu said this on Thursday in Abuja while inaugurating the new Governing Board of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

He called on the members of the board to speak and act with one voice as the power sector was on track to quicken the delivery of service to Nigerians.

“It is pertinent to appraise you of the very important job of TCN in the delivery of adequate and reliable electricity to Nigerians and the Nigerian economy.

According to him, the electricity that is being delivered is not at the level to support the economy and the population.

“We have been hovering around 5000 megawatts, either we go down a bit or we go up a bit for quite some time, we are unable to reach the level that we desired.

“ TCN is the institution responsible for transporting wholesale energy from the off-grid power plant spread across the country to electricity distribution companies, ‘’ he said.

Aliyu said the appointment of the members to the board of TCN was to enable them to serve the country to the best of their ability, bringing their wealth of experience to bear on their decisions at board meetings.

He said the members had key responsibility in overseeing the strategic direction at TCN within the context of the policies of the Federal Government.

“Your role as company’s directors places responsibility on you individually and collectively to act in the best interest of TCN as you owe the company a duty of reasonable care in all your decisions.

“I wish to call on you to work as a team while superintending over the affairs of TCN, the non-executive directors amongst you are not on a full-time job.

“ But your regularity, sincerity and quality of deliberations would to a large extent, determine the impact of your team,” he said.

On his part, Sen. Gabriel Suswan, Chairman Senate Committee on Power, said that every Nigerian is aware of the high deficit in the power sector.

`It is important we are here today to inaugurate the board of one of the parastatals that play a pivotal role in the power supply chain in the country.

“Most times when you have board members and they start to function, you experience infighting, personal interest and that becomes a problem and solution.

“So i want to appeal to the chairman and members of the board that you must hit the ground running to enhance what is already being done by the minister and managing director of TCN.

“There is a lot that needs to be done; there is a lot you have to do in order to change the narratives in the power sector, ‘’ he said.

Suswam while congratulating the members, said that efforts were being made by the Federal Government to enhance the ability of TCN to deliver service to Nigerians.

Responding on behalf of other members, the Chairman of the Board, Mr Bukar Buni, appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for finding them worthy to serve TCN.

Buni said that the members would work tirelessly to put in their best to justify the confidence reposed in them.

He said that members were aware of the role power played in the socio-economic development of a country.

“It is therefore in recognition of this that this board is going to be focused on providing an efficient, sustainable and effective service delivery, ‘’ he said

The News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) reports that members of board are Mr Bukar Buni, Chairman, Mr Mohammed Wasaram, member, Mr Ahmad Imamudeen, member, Mr Nsima Ekere, member, Mr Abdulkarim Disu, member and Gazali Tukur, member.

Other members are Mr Osagie Ediale, Mr Ali Haruna, Mrs Appoloinia Okigbo, Mr Clement Omeiyabaiye and Mrs Aisha Omar, representing the Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.

Also are Mr Alex Okoh, Director-General of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE); Mr Emmanuel Anosike, Director Transmission, representing Ministry of Power and the Managing Director of TCN, Mr Sule Abdulaziz.