25 April 2013, Abuja – The Federal Government has said the nation’s current power crisis was a result of its 30 years of military rule.
According to Minister for National Planning, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman, planning was relegated to the background during the period, setting the stage for the power problem.
He made this known when he presented his scorecard to the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Abuja.
“During the military era planning was relegated and for more than 30 years we neglected the power sector,” Usman said, as he maintained that The minister explained that the Federal Government was on its way to transforming the power sector.
The minister, who also spoke on the nation’s dream of becoming one of the top 20 economies in the world by 2020, indicated that the country might, afterall, not realise the dream.
He noted that Nigeria was currently number 36 in the ranking of world economies, and stated that if by 2020 the nation rises to number 25, he would be a proud man.
“Where were we in 2009? We were number 44. By the end of 2011, we were number 39, by the end of 2012, we were in number 36, this is progress. We made quite a lot of progress. In other areas we are not.
“I don’t want any of you to meet me in 2020 and say you are the one telling us that we are going to be among the top 20. But, what I am saying is that even if we are not among the 20 by that time, we were number 44 in 2009.
“If by 2020 we are number 25, I will be a very proud man. The reason is because we are consciously moving and doing all the necessary things to move up there,” he said.
