13 November 2013, Abuja – Stakeholders in the nation’s electricity sector have tasked new owners of the successor companies of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to demonstrate requisite accountability and efficiency in the management of the assets.
They said management of the assets would go a long way in ensuring stability in the nation’s Nigeria Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), which is characterised by outages for several years
The cost of doing business in Nigeria has reached roof-tops, while some manufacturers have relocated outside the shores of the country due to high energy cost, they also said.
Speaking with our correspondent, an energy expert, Saliu Adebayo said with the successful conclusion of the sale of the generation and distribution companies and eventual takeover by new investors , Nigeria’s power sector would be revitalised.
He also said Nigerians would soon enjoy regular power supply, adding that the development would be based on how the new owners of the power assets are accountable and efficient in the management of same.
He said: “The investors have a thriving electricity sector in Nigeria, but they must not allow profiteering take this away from them. They are duty-bound to improve infrastructure of the assets they acquired in order to boost power supply. They must be accountable and efficient while maintaining the assets because Nigerians cannot afford to witness another failed power institution under the private sector.”
A university lecturer, Hassan Suleiman said there is nothing wrong with the take- over of the assets of the defunct PHCN given the fact that governments in Nigeria have not demonstrated requisite management finesse of public assets
He said the private sector should be given a chance to manage the nation’s power sector.
He advised that the new owners of the power companies should see the assets they acquired as a bond between them and Nigerians, who need power supply.
“The new owners must sure be efficient in the management of the privatised companies. They must be accountable, which is the hallmark of corporate governance in business. They must make sure Nigerians see the desired change in power supply in no distant future”, Suleiman said.
Daily Trust