[size=14pt]FG Targets 10,000MW of Electricity Supply by 2015[/size]
13 Sep 2011
By Yemi Akinsuyi

The Federal Ministry of Water Resources has said it will achieve 95 per cent development of hydropower potential capable of producing up to 10,000 Megawatts of electricity into the energy pool by 2015.

It said this was part of efforts in achieving the goals and target set out by the African Heads of State and Governments under the framework of the African Shared Vision.

The Minister for Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochepke, who said this while addressing the media on the achievements of the Ministry in the first 100 days in office in Abuja, said this will be consolidation phase of the gains of the transformation agenda and the post Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) era, which will guarantee sustainable service delivery.

Ochekpe also said the ministry will achieve 100 percent coverage in the provision of portable water supply per day for domestic, industrial and agricultural use, the expansion of irrigation facilities to realize the nation’s irrigation potential of about 3.14 million hectares, as well as the achievement of 95 percent coverage in the provision of improved sanitation, good health and hygiene practices nationwide.

“Nigeria has huge water resources potential estimated at 263.7 billion cubic metres (both surface and ground water) enough to meet the domestic, industrial and agricultural need of the country that will contribute to the rapid transformation of the economy. The Federal Ministry of Water Resource has the statutory responsibility to harness the water resources potential of the country for national development,” she said.

She said the ministry has taken bold steps and articulated approach for the development and management of the nation’s water resources towards meeting the needs of Nigerians. She added that active participation of private sectors investors and other key stakeholders will facilitate attainment of the nation’s transformation agenda that will guarantee access to water in all sectors of the economy.

While stating the achievement of her ministry within the first 100 days, Ochepke said: “The ministry has awarded contract for the rehabilitation and the expansion of central Ogbia Water Project in Bayelsa State. When completed it is expected to provide portable water to over 13 communities in the area.

“There is the awarding of the contract for the construction and upgrading of Takum Water Supply in Taraba State, and rehabilitation of Goroyo Dam spillway, which breached as a result of the heavy flooding in 2010, and will cost N2.5 billion.

“As measures to improve electricity supply, the installation of 30MW of electro-mechanical turbines for the Gurara Dam has been completed, while evacuation /transmission facilities are on-going.

“The 12 River Basin Development Authorities have within the period, engaged actively in agricultural activities, while arrangement has been put in place to rehabilitate the necessary farm machinery for dry season farming. These efforts are geared towards increased food production and enhance food security,” she said.

Other on-going projects, according to the minister, include construction of the second phase of additional six zonal water quality laboratories located at Sokoto, Maiduguri, Makurdi, Asaba, Umuahia, and Port Harcourt, as well as the drilling of over 200 motorised and hand pump boreholes by the RBDAs.

She listed the ministry’s completed projects to include the completion of Northern Ishan Regional Water Supply, Edo State, to supply portable water to Ishan and adjourning areas with a population of about 700,000 inhabitants, which has a capacity plant of 9 million litres of water per day with the sum of N2.5 billion.

There was also the completion of Owena Dam Water Treatment Plant in Akure, Ondo State, for the provision of treated water for Akure and its environs with a population of about 900,000, with the plant capacity of 60,000 cubic metre per stream/day; at the cost of N11.3 billion.

Kobojunkie:

So I am guessing privatization of the power sector, something Jonathan claimed he spent his first year as president working on for us, is completely out the door now?

So I am guessing privatization of the power sector, something Jonathan claimed he spent his first year as president working on for us, is completely out the door now? Undecided Undecided Undecided Undecided

I was thinking about the same thing. I supported him because he promised to privatize the power sector.

islamrules:

But NEPALS and Power holders are blocking privatization. Those people have colonized NEPA as their family property or say it is now an occult group powerful than the president himself.

Princek12:

I was thinking about the same thing. I supported him because he promised to privatize the power sector.

manny4life:


Who says govt cannot engage in for-profit ventures; competing with other companies on neutral grounds? Privatization just means majority of the sector is going private, it does not bar the govt from engaging in it. The govt might strictly be in the business to generate power as well as other companies are, but will sell to distribution and transmission companies.

Kobojunkie:

^^^But that would be a problem since Goodluck Jonathan promised FULL privatization of the Power sector. He essentially explained that Government had failed and it MADE NO SENSE for Government to be involved -- hence the laying off of all PHCN workers which took effect recently. So, NO, Government is not to be involved in power generation -- managing, maybe but not as competition.