By Abdullahi M. Gulloma Abuja
Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, has assured that despite the many problems experienced in the power sector, it is still possible to make progress in the sector and others. Osinbajo said this yesterday at the Quarterly Presidential Business Forum held at the State House in Abuja. He said the country must keep on moving while the problems are being solved, and assured private sector players that government would deal with the problems they currently face. “All I will just want to say to the private sector is be sure that we have enough willing and able partners. Th ere is no way we can ever be perfect. I mean government is a behemoth, where there are so many problems and issues, but, do not doubt for one moment at all, our commitment to ensuring that we are able to deliver on the promises that we have made. “I believe very strongly that Nigeria will turn around.
I have no doubt in my mind that if we are focused even in the next 12 to 18 months, if we are focused we will certainly see a turn around. And I really would want you to join us in being able to ensure that this happens to the Nigerian economy,” he said. Also speaking, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said 70 per cent of the power sector is in the hands of the private sector. He said the Power Sector Recovery Programme is a fi ve year initiative geared towards restoring viability to the sector and to reset the industry for growth. “One of the things we are trying to do is to re-evaluate the tariff regime. We have set a minimum generation of 4,000 Mega watts. We also want to reduce the losses (i.e.) Electricity theft, vandalism etc. Government shouldn’t interfere with Tarriff . It created huge debt for the government. Solar is the new power. We want to plug our power supply challenges,” he said, He said though complex at the moment, government is trying to reevaluate the tariff regime. In his remarks, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Mr. Ibe Kachikwu, said stronger interface and coordination are required between gas and power sectors because power is the main demand sector for natural gas in the country
