Former Minister, human rights activist and candidate of Allied Congress Party of Nigeria (ACPN), Dr Obiageli Ezekwesili, has promised to provide constant electricity if elected as President of Nigeria.
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Dr. Ezekwesili assured Nigerians of development in the power sector if she wins the presidential election in 2019 through a statement she made on Sunday;
“Our vision is to provide sustainable, affordable and uninterrupted electricity supply to all Nigerian towns and villages, starting with Nigerian cities.
Our vision is to ensure that the Nigerian electricity supply industry becomes fully functional, vibrant and employs hundreds of thousands of young Nigerians, in both the on-grid and off-grid segments.” She said
The former Minister posited that her plan for Nigeria’s energy sector is designed to employ youths in the country.
“From 1999 to date, all the projections made by successive governments to grow the supply of electricity to Nigerians, to either 6,000MW, 10,000MW or 20,000MW, have not been met.
The Nigerian citizens’ desire and willingness to pay an appropriate price of electricity consumed is seen in the great demand for generators of all shapes and sizes, and how much they pay to operate and service these machines.
The low power availability from the National Grid has meant that corporate entities have to divert large amount of funds from their core productive areas of focus to this critical area of reliable power supply.
The price of this is paid in not being competitive and great loss of production capacities, which further impoverishes the populace.” She added
Ezekwesili said further that her immediate goal upon election will be to provide areas cut off from electricity with 24-hours, 365 days-a-year electricity within the first four years of her administration.
She explained that stable electricity would aid business growth in Nigeria, noting that challenges causing underperformance would be addressed if she is elected president.
“This electricity will be aimed at facilitating and growing business, commercial and industrial activities, in a drive to create jobs and increase productivity. Nigeria’s per capita electricity consumption is among the lowest in the world and far lower than many other African countries.
The plan that will be executed for the power sector recognises that the Nigerian power sector is in transition from a government to a private-sector owned and operated industry; therefore, facing challenges, which include, political interference, lack of elective leadership, financial issues, distribution issues, transmission issues, gas supply issues, and generation issues.
These issues account for the consistent underperformance witnessed in the last 58 years and will need to be seriously tackled if the potential of the Nigerian power sector is to be realised.
To get electricity right, thus rapidly improve electricity performance and delivery gap to Nigerians, this plan outlines the change in approach that the administration will adopt.” She concluded