The senate has urged the federal government to appoint a separate minister for the ministry of power which Babatunde Fashola currently occupies, to en
The senate has urged the federal government to appoint a separate minister for the ministry of power which Babatunde Fashola currently occupies, to ensure optimal performance. Under the present administration, the ministry of power is combined with those of works and housing, with Babatunde Fashola overseeing them. The senate also urged the government to immediately incorporate special purpose vehicles (SPVs) for the implementation of alternative energy projects, which included the hydropower projects, solar power projects and the wind power projects.
It equally urged the Federal Ministry of power, works and housing to use gas as a source of energy for the Kaduna project in accordance with its original concept. This followed a resolution on a motion on ‘The Need to Establish and Delegate Special Purpose Vehicles to Execute and Operate Major Power Sector Development Projects’.
“The ministry of power today is combined with works and housing and the thrust of the ministry is to give quality direction. But, what we find is that the ministry continues to appropriate these jobs that are specifically meant to be done by agencies under it. We are taking measures to see whether we can bring back the ministry to what it ought to be,” Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe said.
In his remarks, Ike Ekweremadu, deputy Senate President, who presided at plenary, said every talk about growing the economy would not work unless the power sector was repositioned.
“We need to create a situation where we have energy sufficiency; so long as the private sector depends on private arrangement for energy requirements, the cost of goods will continue to be high, especially the ones produced here. It is important that we all work toward ensuring power sufficiency in the country and ensure that it is sustained,” Ekweremadu said.
