The Senate yesterday set up a 13-member Ad-Hoc Committee to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the management of funds so far appropriated for the power sector since 1999.
The Committee, headed by Senator Abubakar Kyari, was also given the task of probing the unbundling of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria by the Federal Government.
The Upper Chamber took the decision while passing a motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, seeking the immediate reconnection of some parts of Borno State back to the national grid in view of the challenges the blackout was posing to his constituents.
It also directed the committee to conclude its investigations and report to the Senate within two weeks.
The senators, while contributing to the debate, also condemned the inability of the TCN to provide uninterrupted power supply to all parts of the country.
Ndume had expressed concern that Nigeria, with a population of over 150 million, produced only 4,600 megawatts, while South Africa with a population of about 40 million people produced 40,000 megawatts.
He observed that the disconnection of Maiduguri , the Borno State capital, from the national grid, as well as the degeneration of power supply across the country had affected the economy negatively.
Ndume also expressed concern that with an installed power generation potential of about 5,000 megawatts, the output distributed currently was about 1,950 megawatts.
He added that it was disheartening to note that Iran with over 77 million people “generates about 42,000 megawatts, while South Korea with over 49 million people generates about 60,000 megawatts of electricity.”
“This Senate needs to investigate this to give the government support. For some years now, a lot of money has been spent but there is nothing to show for it.”
Senator Danjuma Goje in his contribution said that the motion was apt in view of the untold suffering that lack of power supply had caused Nigerians.
Senator Godswill Akpabio lamented that many companies had shut down operation due to irregular power supply in the country.
He lamented that in spite of the financial contribution by some states in the South to improve power supply, Nigerians were still grappling with lack of electricity supply.
He said, “In 2015, we are celebrating 4,000 megawatts, for me this is worrisome. We cannot have employment without power and Nigerians are complaining about the high cost and some localities which have not seen light for months are asked to pay high tariff.”
“The Ad Hoc Committee that we set up should look at the activities of the Discos and what is preventing Nigerians from benefitting from the unbundling of the PHCN.”
- Punch
Probe Obasanjo keh?Hmmm I am sure he will soon send them a memo..lol
a.k.a EDWIN CHINEDU AZUBUKO said..
ReplyDelete.
But they should generate all their energy in giving us light and later probing this people abeg.....
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***CURRENTLY IN JUPITER***
And light has been stable for the past month or so o. They should probe whatever jor.
DeleteLol@send dem a memo!walahi dat baba no dey hear word,and he isnt a coward.cos even if it's jail he has been there done dat!but d problem is,after d probe,will they get out any money?they shouldn't waste our limited resources on a wild goose chase abeg#tongue click
DeleteNothing will come out of it as usual.
ReplyDeleteThey have been probing since the days of Adam and Eve but findings are always thrown under the carpet. ..
Our law makers are just busy making money, na decieve wey dem dey decieve us dey vex me, make dem kuku sit down for house dey collect 'IDLE ALLOWANCE' free us abeg....
'UP SDK & SDKERS'
No wonder he has been singing to Jona no be me and you dey for the same category? I will be happy if Obasanjo is probed. His own is too much
ReplyDeleteThe Probe haff reached Baba?
ReplyDeleteAyam sure Tinubu is holding his chin in his right hand wondering how it all came to This.
Hahahahahahhaahhahahahaha
Lol @ Tinubu holding his chin and wondering how it all came to this.... ROTF!!!
DeleteDem neva start sef.
In fact ehn, if Tinubu is probed, it would be something that has never been done in the history of Nigeria. And GMB would win the hearts of his "pronounced" enemies
DeleteProbing every weeya. Soon it will come down to probing every woman's soup pot.
ReplyDeleteWell looking at the bright side, it means financial auditors will have jobs. Hopefully.
Buhari forgot that the Senate has the power ho probe too. In fact the Senate can decide to probe the petroleum ministry in 1977.
ReplyDeleteYes, he hurt to be probe.
ReplyDeleteWhat?! I can't!!!
DeleteProbe on!!!
ReplyDeleteThat's very courageous of them.
ReplyDeleteObasanjo has been acting as the owner of the country for a long time now.
If Baba GoSlow is 2 lily livered to do the right thing, the Senate should take the lead.
Obasanjo has nothing to show for the billions of naira that he spent on the power sector.
He power supply in the country became worse during Obasanjo's regime. He has to account for the billions of naira. The money can't just dissappear like smoke.
I luv this. D probe should star from OBJ.
ReplyDeleteLol@obasanjo send them a memo. Whatever they do that will improve things here is a welcome development. Nigerians have suffered for too long.
ReplyDeletenaijaflo.com
They are wasting time
ReplyDeleteOh well... Let's wait and see
ReplyDeleteI think the reason for this electricity problem also has a major conspiracy behind it. It is not that Nigeria cannot generate electricity, we definitely have the money to do so.
ReplyDeleteI think it's because of the people who have heavily invested in the generator business. Once Nigeria has constant electricity supply this will massively affect those who have invested interests in generators.
You get sense die..
Deletei hear say na 1 former big political office holder dey import all this MIKANO generators... Abeg the man go want make light good?
Thank you
DeleteYou spoke my mind. The generator business and the oil sector too. I think is more to do with the people that invested in the oil business. Once there's constant electricity they would go bankrupt.
DeleteI agree with you. Eg: Atiku.
DeleteTrue talk
DeleteGbam. Moreso those in the diesel business. The likes of Otedola had us by the balls and made it big bcos of the constant purchase of diesel. No thanks to baba. That's the only reason I begrudge him...cos he gave us out to certain young individuals like Otedola, Dangote and co. They control the monopoly and it was a huge sabotage
DeleteHehehehe, let the drama begin
ReplyDeleteOnly memo?
ReplyDeleteAs we type now, he's on his way to somewhere for interview cause that is the only thing he lives for these days.
Old man that will not shush it for once let me hear word.
Lol@on his way to somewhere for interview.
DeleteIt's not about probing, it's what happens after the so-called probe. Will the report see the end of the day?
DeleteGood one, let's wait and see how clean OBJ is since he has been on GEJ's case.
ReplyDeleteWhat happened to the findings of the Elumelu probe of the power sector? It went same way of the Farouk Lawan probe of the Subsidy Fraud.Our Lawmakers have morphed into a bunch of rabble-rousers. They play up the emotions of Nigerians who think something good will come out of the incessant probes. One can arguably posit that these probes are initiated for the committees to get their share of kickbacks from indicted stakeholders. The senate wants their share of the klieg light on a stage of the well scripted propaganda to make the current government seem hardworking. We hope the gullible audience leaves this cinema with a cathartic feeling. Forgive me for being pessimistic as we still have 'politicians' in power.
ReplyDeleteAhahah comedy of errors.
DeleteThe age discrimination in Nigeria is way too much. Don't people want to attain old age anymore. I'm just baffled. And for those that have reached old age, have they done something wrong by reaching old age?
ReplyDeleteWell, I've got mixed feelings about this.
ReplyDeleteIt's possible that they're only saying this to infer that no one is above the law and anyone can be probed in the current administration or they actually mean it. But knowing the same people probing you are just as corrupt , I'd rather not waste my time holding my breath. This matter will be swept under the rug as usual.
Now I go dey laugh more!!!! so e don reach Obj abi??? this is wise, cos from him Bola Ige dey in charge & nothing was done!!! He sold & privatise dat sector, dis will also involve El Rufai with spit mouth!! Obj! see ur grave!!! se bi u think say na only Gej! oya wait, d one Abacha do u na small one!!! This second time go be final for u!!!!!!! letter writer, oya write ur will now oöo! agba ya!!! shioöo!! oshiii!!!!
ReplyDeleteProbe on abeg. They should keep giving us constant power supply. Na that one concern me.
ReplyDeleteNdudi Elumelu will be shaking now
ReplyDeleteon his way to somewhere, lol na wa for English.
ReplyDeleteLol @ send them a memo. Them no dey fear to probe OBJ. Its the same thing I've been saying and will continue to say. You can't probe only GEJ and you can't probe him and his antecedents like OBJ because if push comes to shove, they'll make sure you go down with them. Most of the politicians that constitute the senate served in one capacity or the other in the past administrations, and bearing in mind that most Nigerian politicians are the same, they cannot throw stones cos they too live in glass houses. There must be records somewhere to indict and blackmail whoever agitates for the probe. You see all these issue of probe, it'll end on social media. The earlier PMB realizes this and starts taking strides to effect the promised change, the better for him and us all
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