Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Mr. Chiedu Ugboh, Wednesday, disclosed that the nation’s integrated power plants (IPP) do not have gas to operate. Ugboh, who made this disclosure at an investigative hearing organised by the joint House of Representatives Committee on Power, Privatisation and Commercialisation, said that despite the company’s capacity to generate more than 5000 megawatts of electricity, it generates just 700 megawatts for sale due to lack of capacity by the distribution companies to absorb the available power. He said even the 700 megawatts was irregular, wears out the machines, making them to consume more fuel.

He explained that the major constraints faced by the company was distribution capacity and the non availability of gas. “We have been to many places to look for gas, even in Geregu, we don’t have a single molecule of gas. Papalanto, the same thing. There’s no gas anywhere to run these plants which is a huge constraint,” Ugboh told lawmakers.

The NDPHC , Ugboh said, has 10 power plants with a generation capacity of over 5000 megawatts. He explained that in addition to power generation, NIPP also intervenes in transmission projects and has 41 of such projects “We added 6460MVA and 2686 kilometers of high tension KV lines for the Transmission Company of Nigeria. TCN is using these assets now, but the legal transfer is yet be done to get the TCN to pay for them.

“All states of the federation are beneficiaries of our distribution intervention. About 374 distribution projects such as injection substations, over 4000 11kva lines, which once finished, will be transferred to the distribution companies for use following the legal transfer is completed. “We have deployed 20,000 units of solar home system to homes in communities that hitherto never knew what electricity looked like,” he said.

Apparently not satisfied with his presentation, the joint committee has summoned the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprise (BPE), Mr. Alex Okoh, to appear before it to also explain the rationale behind the planned privatisation of NIPP power plants under the Niger Delta Power Holding Company. The co-Chairman and Chairman, Committee on Power, Hon. Magaji Da’u Aliyu (APC, Jigawa) ruled that the DG BPE should cause appearance to personally explain the role played by the Bureau in the planned privatisation of NIPP plants.

The committee dismissed Mr. Yunana Jack Bello, who came to represent the DG of BPE, Mr. Alex Okoh, for the inability to provide all the documents requested by the committee. Da’u Aliyu in an opening remarks said that the House mandated the joint committee to engage with stakeholders on the move to sell the power plants and to report back with recommendations.

The lawmaker further stated that the power sector reform programme was on course and the privatisation could either make or mar it as BPE had commenced the process of the plants sale. Speaker of the House, Femi Gbajabiamila, while declaring the investigation open, said the policies, systems, commercial and governing interests around generation, storage, transmission , and distribution of electricity to power homes and industries were critical components of the national economy. “Without an effectively functioning power sector, we will never be able to build the industries, power innovation and create enough jobs to cater to the large and rapidly expanding number of young people in our country. “Despite this history of failure, and of resources expended without result, we do not have the option of putting our hands up and walking away,” he said.

Gbajabiamila, who was represented by the Deputy Minority Leader, Hon. Toby Okechukwuo, noted that the only option left is to try to get it right, to correct the mistakes of history and make the future better for all Nigerians. “The Federal Government of Nigeria has proposed to sell five power plants under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) to raise liquidity to bridge the funding gaps in the power sector, while at the same time bringing in private investors who have the expertise, the resources, and the expressed desire to make sure these plants operate optimally.

“Our purpose in the House of Representatives through this investigative hearing, and other interactions with stakeholders is first to review the policy process that led to this decision to understand the presumptions and expectations that have motivated this policy decision,” he said.

SLAP44:


In a divided Nigeria where the north retains the name.

We need a new country in the south.

SLAP44:


That was what I stood for and argued for over 10 years. By 2015, it became certain to me that Nigeria has become irredeemable. Nothing at this point can save Nigeria.

Know this and know peace.

lexy2014:


Unfortunately, u guys think there's a magic formula...let's get us a visionary leader& all our problems will be solved. Getting a visionary leader is good but a "visionary leader" who d people do not hold to account, will end up being a tyrant. D people have a responsibility to always hold their political representatives to account. It's lacking in our political culture that's why those in power thrive. Until Nigerians understand their power and begin to vigorously challenge those power, nothing will change whether young or old is voted for

MIKOLOWISKA:
like who?
Stop dreaming and work with what you have

Ovamboland:


And the South will still be stuck with leaders like Obasanjo and Jonathan who could not solve the lockjam in power supply after combined 14 years leading the country?

Misdiagnosis of a problem will only lead to wrong solutions that will make you sorry.

lexy2014:


I don't remember telling u that a visionary leader won't have a listening ear. What I told u is this:


What do u mean by this:



Is there any universal law that supports this theory? Are there any guarantees?

D problem with ur summation is that everything rises and falls on d shoulders of "the young visionary leader". But u fail to understand where d people come in. It is this wrong notion that it's d leader who is d deliverer that turns them into demi-gods.

The constitution says in Section 14 (2a) that "sovereignty BELONGS to the people of Nigeria from whom government through this constitution derives all it's power and authority".

This aspect of d constitution is based on d principle of social contract. U can't be pushing an agenda for a "young visionary leader" outside of d provisions of d constitution which places ultimate power in d hands of d people. It will not work. U will only produce old wine in new wine skins.

It is d duty of d people to continuously let their elected representatives (young or old) know that it is d people that own d power not just thru elections every 4years, but by holding them accountable within every 4years.

Seniorwriter:

WE NEED YOUNG VISIONARY LEADERS IN NIGERIA!

@Seniorwriter

Seniorwriter:
WE NEED YOUNG VISIONARY LEADERS IN NIGERIA!

ter

It's an open secret to agree with that if Nigeria is been led by visionary leaders that employ the hands of competent technocrats and the economy hence becomes favorable and the boom reflects in the lives of the citizens most Nigerians clamoring for division will go mute! even you @SLAP44.
I stand to be corrected.

SLAP44:


In a divided Nigeria where the north retains the name.

We need a new country in the south.

Plomo:
Nawa

But large volumes of gas is being flared everyday

SLAP44:
Ummm, let's try using cow urine to power the stations

Seniorwriter:
WE NEED YOUNG VISIONARY LEADERS IN NIGERIA!



It's an open secret to agree with that if Nigeria is been led by visionary leaders that employ the hands of competent technocrats and the economy hence becomes favorable and the boom reflects in the lives of the citizens most Nigerians clamoring for division will go mute! even you @SLAP44.
I stand to be corrected.

This lack credence because we've never had any visionary leader either old or young in the past and present. So your phrase as emboldened lacks any thing to go by.
Let's be proactive towards the online & offline campaign for young visionary leadership now and come 2023, once achieved and there isn't a differential then we can agree to your phrase. For now it is null.
This present clueless administration got to power because they vigorously campaigned they'll do better and the sensitization made people to want to see if a new party could...though I never saw any way someone as old as Buhari could going by my logic with critical thinking as to Futuristic approach to leadership based on my little experience as a mentor to young people, I saw the lopsidedness as per his past performance and disadvantaged age difference to want to see things the way Y2K generation could so i wasn't game reason I didn't accept their mantra.
So let's get it right.

@Seniorwriter