Sambo To Core Power Investors: Perform or Face Sanction

Posted by African Examiner Agabus Pwanagba, Featured, Latest Headlines, News Friday, November 1st, 2013

…As FG hands over Jos Distribution to New Owner, Aura Energy

Agabus Pwanagba, Jos

Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, who is also the Chairman National Council on Privatization, has warned core investors in the power sector to ensure quality service delivery to Nigerians or face sanction.

He gave the warning on Friday at the handing over of Jos Electricity Distribution Company to Aura Energy Limited and IDM Consortium, amid tight security.

The company services Plateau, Benue, Bauchi and Gombe States.

“Let me state clearly here that both the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission and the Bureau of Public Entreprise will continually monitor the operations of successor companies and would not hesitate to sanction any core investor that does not deliver on the performance agreement that was executed with the government.” he warned

The Vice President who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information, Dr Bolashade Yemi, further noted that though the challenges facing the electricity sector in Nigeria are enormous, but added that its opportunities are equally abound.

He assured that the federal government is committed to creating an enabling environment that would provide incentive for private sector investors which in return must ensure quality and cost effective service delivery to the nation’s electricity consumers.

Sambo further assured that, “this federal government is indeed committed and is determined to keep its promise of taking Nigeria out of perennial darkness within the shortest possible period.”

Chairman of Aura Energy Limited, Alhaji Tukur Modibbo, in his address, said, the welfare of staff is paramount, adding “we are going to carry the staff along, this is the time they will get whatever they need in terms of materials to work.”

He decried that PHCN staff have been in a very terrible condition, due to poor welfare and lack of working tools.

“They suffered all kinds of ill treatment.,” he acknowledged.

In his opening remarks, Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, Jos Electricity Distribution Company, Engineer Fidelis Obishai, said:

“I want to assure you that apart from the anxiety in the environment due to accident of history, which has since begun to give way to the reality of peace and tranquility, there are not likely to be any major challenges.”

Obishai however lamented that, there are a few areas that need urgent attention, which he listed as “Training and retraining of staff to change their orientation from a public sector to a private sector driven entity and the need for massive investment in metering.”