2023: A vote for Tinubu, an antidote to endemic power sector crisis – APC Chieftain
Joel Oladele-Abuja
A member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee, Hon. Tolu Bankole has described the presidential candidate of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as the only candidate, amongst others, who has what it takes to tackle the endemic challenges bedeviling the power sector in the country.
In a statement signed by him on Wednesday in Abuja, he said Tinubu has done it before when he was the governor of Lagos State by partnering with AES Nigeria to build an Independent Power Plant to generate 270MW for Lagos residents.
According to him, Tinubu will stabilise the national power crisis by building on the robust foundation laid by President Muhammadu Buhari.
The President during the budget presentation on Friday, October 7, 2022 had highlighted the transformational strides that have been made in Nigeria’s challenging power sector, among which are the Siemens Power Programme, with the German government under which over 2 billion US Dollars will be invested in the Transmission Grid.
“Others include huge investments in the power sector reforms supported by World Bank, International Finance Corporation, African Development Bank, JICA and the Central Bank interventions to roll out over a million meters to on-grid consumers, creating much needed jobs in assembly and installation.
“On the generation side, we have made significant investments in and incremental 4,000MW of power generating assets, including Zungeru Hydro, Kashimbila Hydro, Afam III Fast Power, Kudenda Kaduna Power Plant, the Okpai Phase 2 Plant, the Dangote Refinery Power Plant, and others.
“Our generation efforts are making the transition from a reliance on oil and diesel, to gas as a transitional fuel, as well as environmentally friendly solar and hydro sources.
“Under the Energising Education Programme, we have commissioned solar and gas power solutions at Federal Universities and Teaching Hospitals at Kano, Ebonyi, Bauchi and Delta States. Similarly, our Energising Economies Programme has taken clean, sustainable power solutions to the Sabon-Gari Market in Kano, Ariaria Market in Aba, and Sura Shopping Complex in Lagos” President Buhari had said.
Bankole stated further that in tandem with the call for state electricity markets as against state owned electricity market, Tinubu will emphasize generation of environmentally friendly power in different parts of the country taking advantage of the natural endowment and peculiarities of each state.
“No one is better prepared to sustain these gains than an APC administration led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In a pioneering feat in 2000, Tinubu partnered with AES Nigeria to build an Independent Power Plant to generate 270MW for Lagos residents.
“The power generated was consumed locally but later transmitted to the national grid due to some challenges in the operational framework in the energy sector,” he said.
Acknowledging the problems facing Nigeria, Tinubu had said, “Yes, we face serious problems. But I believe that we have it within us to reach our finest destiny. With help from God, we shall make this nation better for the generations to come.”
“With a Tinubu President in 2023, the new administration will continue his trailblazing partnership and encourage active private sector involvement in the generation and distribution of electricity.
“Energy experts have revealed that with the required maintenance and monitoring, state electricity markets will undoubtedly influence an increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 12%.
“Off-grid options such as solar at very affordable rates for individuals and households will be encouraged. There shall be deliberate regime friendly policies toward acquisition and usage of solar energy in the country.
“This will result in whole scale acquisition of the solar technology skills/technical know-how, by Nigerians via capacity training, scholarship and internship to scale up the much needed manpower in the power sector and employment in Nigeria.
“Industries will be incentivised to generate their energy with support from the government, through tax holidays and friendly importation arrangements of power equipments.
“Government will give sovereign guarantee to individuals and corporate organisations with the wherewithal to venture into generation and direct sale of power to companies and individuals. State government will be encouraged and supported to do same, thanks to the Electricity Bill 2022.
“He will sustain the Siemens Power Program with the goal to upgrade existing energy infrastructures and promptly replace moribund ones to guarantee efficiency in the complex power matrix and optimality in revenue collection.
“A vote for Tinubu Presidency in 2023 General elections is a vote for competency in solving the endemic power sector crisis once and for all in a manner that will lead to comprehensive, affordable, available, safe and constant power for Nigerian homes, investments and industries.” Bankole said
