Many Nigerians have been suffering under the crushing weight of lack of power supply. The power supply seems to have worsened significantly in the new year, making many wonder what the Minister of Power, Babatunde Fashola (SAN) is doing to ameliorate the situation.
Some social media users took to Nairaland to remind Nigerians of recent promises Fashola had made concerning power supply in the country.
For instance, in March 2015, whilst commissioning the 8.5 megawatts Lekki Independent Power Project (IPP), then Governor Fashola told Nigerians, “Let the Eko DISCOs sign a contract with me, giving part of their concessioning to the state government, in about six to eight months, there will be power in all homes in Lagos State,” Fashola said.
He added, “So, let no one say that he has no money to deliver power for the entire
country. This is the limit to which the law allows us to do, but we have done this to
make a statement that power can be generated. So, when they come with lies
that power is impossible, you can tell them that we have power here; we make
it possible”.
Also in October 2014, Mr. Fashola (SAN) told Nigerians not to accept excuses for power failure saying that it was not rocket science to produce electricity, and that Nigeria a country with oil and gas, had no business not having constant electricity.
Fast forward to 2016, and after a few months as power minister, the status quo remains the same. Instead of power supply increase in the country, Mr. Fashola (SAN) is now advocating for power tariff increase. Recently he told Nigerians that unless there was an increase in tariff, there could be no improvement in electricity.
Turns out it is rocket science after all, and Mr. Fashola (SAN) is no rocket scientist.