Oscarline Onwuemenyi
26 September 2017, Sweetcrude, Abuja – Despite latest reports that the nation generated a record 7000 megawatts of electricity recently, the Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has lamented that inadequate power supply in the country has held back its economic development.
Osinbajo said this yesterday when he commissioned an Electric Metering factory in Onna Local Government area of Akwa Ibom State, even as he commended the Akwa Ibom governor for establishing the metering factory, saying that the Federal Government was looking forward to other several factories across the country.
The vice president, who was in the state as part of the activities marking the 30th anniversary of Akwa Ibom State, said that Nigeria’s economic development hinged on an effective power supply, lamenting that Electricity Distribution Companies (Discos) had not been able to collect tariffs because of non-availability of meters.
He said, “The electric metering factory is an important project. Inadequate power is the major obstacle to full economic development in Nigeria.
“We have also identified the facts that Discos are unable to collect tariffs effectively from consumers because we are unable to afford the cost of metering. I think that there is an important policy innovation as there is no restriction on those who can actually produce meter for our consumers,”
In his speech, the Akwa Ibom governor, Mr Udom Emmanuel, said that his administration was partnering with private sectors to put the state on the path of industrialization. Emmanuel said that the factory would manufacture an average of one million meters per year and thanked the investors for their confidence in the state.
The essence of this industry is to ensure power for all. Once you can buy recharge cards, you can have electricity, it is available for all.
Following the epileptic power supply experienced in Akwa Ibom State, the governor, Udom Emmanuel has assured the state of improved adequate power supply.
Governor Emmanuel admitted that he still has a lot to do in addressing the issues in the state’s power sector.
He noted that the success recorded in the power infrastructural development of the state was part of his blueprint to develop the sector, in line with his campaign promises.
Referring to the on-going power sub-station project in Ekim, Mkpat Enin local government area being undertaken by his administration, Emmanuel said, “I just had a meeting yesterday with the management of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) to see what we can do in terms of Ekim, once we take that on, we take on Oron, I can now come back to answer your question; but I know where we are going to.
“I said these things are not rocket sciences, it takes dedication, sincerity of service to get these things done. As I said, we are just trying to test out what blueprint we have, just give us a little time.”
