Gabriel Enoghalase
04 March 2013, Sweetcrude, Benin — Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Power, Mr. Patrick Ikhariale, has said that the generation of 10,000 mega watts of electricity by the Federal Government before the end of 2013, was realisable.
He, however, added that there must be transparency and diligence by stake-holders and all those involved in the energy sector.
Ikhariale spoke, weekend, at Opoji in Esan Central Local Government Area of Edo State, shortly after he was conferred with chieftaincy titles by the Enigie of Idoa and Ujiogba, both in Esan West Local Government Area of the state.
He said for consumers to enjoy efficient supply of electricity, they must be willing to pay any marginal increase in the cost.
Ikhariale said: “I will tell you clearly that it is not a big deal and I will say very clearly that this is one government that has given the highest attention to issues relating to the energy sector.
“As we speak, and if you have been close to the power in the last one or two weeks, you would have observed that the Managing Director of National Integrated Power Project, NIPP, Mr. Abiodun Olotu, had commissioned several NIPP projects in Lagos State alone.
“If you take these into consideration, and even if each of the station is generating an average of 30,500watts and you add this to what we have already, you have certainly exceeded the current 3,500 mega watts.
“So, by the end of 2013 is not impossible to have 10,000mega watts. It is realistic but the only thing I will say is that all things being equal and beyond the issue of transparency in the power sector business, there must be due diligence; due diligence is the key word to attaining the highest level we desire in the country.
“So, I am in tandem with Mr. President’s vision on the energy sector and we all know that as a matter of fact, the power sector is one critical sector in Nigeria that will turn around the entire country’s political and economic system because with power, you will have 70 percent of the nation’s problems solved.”
“Industries that had been shut down will certainly come back to business and will encourage Foreign Direct Investment, FDI. Once this happens, there will be synergy between consumption and production. No country can make it great if you are a buyer and seller economy.”
