[size=13pt]Ministries sign MoU to generate power from dams[/size]

A Memorandum of Understanding for the use of the nation’s dams to generate electricity has been signed between the Ministry of Water Resources and the Ministry of Power.


The Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, said this while receiving an update on the partial commercialisation of the River Basin Development Authorities in the country from the Director-General, Bureau of Public Enterprises, Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa.


A statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by the BPE spokesman, Mr. Chukwuma Nwokoh, noted that the minister said some of the dams were viable for power generation and that prompted the dialogue between the ministries.


She expressed the willingness of her ministry to partner agencies such as BPE for the benefit of Nigerians.


“The ministry is also partnering the Ministry of Agriculture on a pilot irrigation scheme for graduates to ease unemployment in the country,” Ochepke said.


She also disclosed that the ministry was discussing with the Urban Development Bank to fund the project for the benefit of the nation’s teeming unemployed graduates.


The minister promised to study the report with a view to implementing the recommendations and thanked the Working Group on the RBDAs and the BPE for a comprehensive report.


In recognition of the critical importance of reforming the water resources sector as a prelude to their partial commercialisation the BPE had obtained the approval of the National Council on Privatisation to constitute an inter-departmental and inter-disciplinary steering committee on the RBDAs.


The committee comprised representatives of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, National Integrated Water Resources Management Commission, representatives of six RBDAs and other relevant stakeholders nominated by the NCP.


Onagoruwa said the Working Group, chaired by BPE’s Acting Director of National Facilities and Agricultural Resources, Dr. Vincent Akpotaire, was at the behest of the immediate past Water Resources Minister.


She said the 12 RBDAs were initially listed for partial commercialisation in order to entrench commercial principles, minimise financial dependence on the treasury and reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks in their operations.


Onagoruwa added that the objective was not achieved due to lack of commitment by the parties at fulfilling the provisions of the performance agreement.


To achieve the earlier objective, she said BPE was now adopting a two-pronged strategy of partial commercialisation and Public-Private Partnership for some viable projects of the RBDAs.


The RBDAs are Hadeija Jama’re; Sokoto-Rima; Ogun-Osun; Anambra-Imo; Lower-Niger and Upper- Niger.


The choice of the six RBDAs, she added, was determined by their great potential for PPP, geographical spread and level of development.


http://www.punchng.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art201108192331626

Good one! I only hope there are enough willingness and commitment to follow it through. Nigeria has enough means to generate more than her needed power.

let them do something about AFAM power station cuz its DEAD

Good moves, result will bring applause.

Nice. Fresh Air is gradually but surely morphing Nigeria into something beautiful.

[color=#550000][/color]i hope this is not about another fringe of embezzlement. The power sector imbibing of national fund has been colossal and yet 5000megawatts. lets just pray it works in a country that nothing work. power is the backbone of any economy and i hope this people know that. implementation! implementation!! implementation!!!

Interesting

Another hopeful story. Nigerian newspapers are constantly full of "Nigeria to build this", "Nigeria to do that, but nothing ever gets done. We seem to be cursed in this country, perpetually unable to bring projects to a conclusion.

@ Topic,

They should be setting targets and deliverables. Talk is cheap!