03 February 2014, Lagos – Minister of Power, Professor Chinedu Nebo has called on the Civil Society Organisations (CSO) to create awareness for Nigerians on the power sector reform, especially in the post-privatisation era, in addition to ensuring the defence of their rights as consumers of electricity products.
The minister stated this at the just-concluded 6th Power Summit for Civil Society Organizations (CSO) Forum held in Abuja, at the weekend.
According to him, civic engagements provide an opportunity for Nigerian citizens to actively take ownership of the reforms, whilst helping to promote the attitudinal changes necessary for reflective power supply, usage and consumption.
Nebo reiterated that the power sector reform was, essentially, to ensure sustainable energy delivery to Nigerians, through increase in power generation, transmission and distribution and effective management of public and private power institutions.
He said the good news of the reform was that, with the successful sale of the government owned distribution and generation companies, the ministry is getting to the tail end of the power reform process.
The minister lamented that some Nigerians continue to live in off-grid rural areas with no power access in some cases unstable power access, therefore a lot need to be done.
Prof. Nebo further noted that, with the privatisation process which has been globally adjudged the largest, most successful and transparent privatization of public utilities, in modern history, there is the need to ensure that governance controls and commitment to transparency and accountability of government by the new owners and management are properly put in place.
Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, had appreciated the efforts put in place by civil society organisations in power sector reform process, urging the organisations to educate the citizenry and always ensure the defence of their rights as consumers of electricity products.
– Daily Newswatch
