The federal government wednesday unfolded what it described as power sector recovery programme with the aim of creating a more viable and vibrant power sector.
The beneficiary states are: Oyo, Adamawa, Taraba, Plateau, Zamfara, Kwara, Bauchi, Kano, Enugu, Osun, Sokoto and Kaduna States.The government also approved N80 billion for the rehabilitation and construction of many roads and bridges in 12 states of the federation.
The government also approved engineering and consultancy designs for the construction of two access roads to the second Niger bridge that is under construction. The two roads are meant to link Asaba in Delta State and Onitsha in Anambra State to the second Niger bridge.
The construction, which is expected to last for six months will cost N150.8 million.
These approvals were made at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by President Muhammadu Buhari in the Presidential Villa.
Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting, Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, said approval was also made for power projects relating to the extension and management of Katsina Wind Energy Farm project. He said the new recovery power sector plan was meant to enhance the performance of the distribution companies (DISCOS).
According to him, the Katsina wind energy project was awarded to an expatriate in 2010 and was meant to be concluded in 2013 but the project was stalled by the kidnap of the expatriate whom he said left the country after his rescue and never returned. However, he said the project had newly been revived.
Fashola, said the power sector recovery agenda would among others, simplify and reduce cash deficit which has accumulated as a result of reduction in tariffs by the previous administration of President Goodluck Jonathan.
He also said the agenda would foster transparency, improve governance in the power sector, address access to renewable energy, guarantee predictable foreign exchange policy for the power sector, among others.
“The last contract on power approved is the power sector recovery programme which we presented to council. It’s a programme that comprises many policy actions, operational and financial interventions that need to be carried out by the government to improve transparency, service delivery, performance of DISCOS, transmission companies, the entire value change in order to create a more viable power sector that is private-sector driven.
“Some of the highlights of the programme are how to simplify and reduce the cash deficits that have accumulated as a result of previous unilateral reductions of tariff by the last administration during the running of the elections; how to make the DISCOS viable, accountable, responsive to customers; ensure stability of the grid and expansion of the grid and transparency and communication within the sector and also processes for ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) debts and how to improve sector governance; our roles in the buzz, the quality of personnel on the board of the DISCOS.
According to him, the engineering design for access link roads to the Second River Niger bridge would be sequel to subsequent award of further works on the bridge. “The design is expected to be completed in six months and we will start procurement, and as the bridge advances, we can then connect the two states. The contract sum is N150,840 million,” Fashola added.
Also briefing the journalists, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Muhammad Bello, said FEC also approved the take-off of Phase II of Abuja Mass Transit; construction of link roads in the FCT as well as the continuation of infrastructural development in Jahi District.
Bello said Jahi District infrastructure would cost N19.47 billion while another five-kilometre road to link the ring road lll to Wasa junction with Karshi-Ara-Apo Road would cost N2.454 billion.
He also said the phrase II of Abuja Mass Transit Lot 1B (26.77km) which will begin from Ring Road I would pass through Area 10 to Wuse Market, Berger Junction, Jabi Motor Park Life Camp and terminate at Gwagwa.
However, a strange development was witnessed before and after yesterday’s FEC meeting. Before the meeting took off at 11a.m; the ministers had gathered in the office of Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo for a meeting that lasted for about an hour.
Again, after the meeting which ended before 2p.m., the ministers returned to the vice-president’s office to continue the meeting till some minutes after 3p.m.
Asked what prompted the strange development, the Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, said the government reserved the right to decide how it handled its activities.
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