http://af.reuters.com/article/nigeriaNews/idAFL5E8LGKE620121016?pageNumber=2&virtualBrandChannel=0&sp=true

* Nigeria aims to earn over $1 bln for power firms

* Power outages hold back growth, sustain poverty

* President Jonathan pins hopes on power reforms

By Joe Brock and Camillus Eboh

ABUJA, Oct 16 (Reuters) - Nigeria announced the preferred bidders on Tuesday for 10 state power distribution firms it is selling for 197.25 billion naira ($1.25 billion) as part of a plan to reform the country's moribund electricity sector.

Power outages, which amount to several hours per day, are the biggest brake on growth in Africa's second biggest economy and a frequent complaint of Nigeria's 160 million people.

In 2010, President Goodluck Jonathan announced plans to break up the state power company and sell it off as 11 distribution and six generation companies. He has promised a tenfold increase in electricity by 2020.

Four of the firms - covering Jos, Kano, Port Harcourt and Yola - only had one approved bidder each.

Many of the companies involved in the bids have little or no power sector experience, while others are backed by powerful political interests but have technically capable partners.

Integrated Energy, which is chaired by former military ruler Abdulsalami Abubakar and is partnered by the Philippines' largest power retailer Manila Electric, bid the highest efficiency target for four DISCOs in Yola, Ibadan and the two covering the commercial capital Lagos; Eko and Ikeja.

Chrome Energy, which is chaired by billionaire businessman Emeka Offor, is part of the highest bid for assets in Enugu and Abuja.

Aura Energy, which according to its website was created to buy a coal mine, was the sole bidder for the Jos DISCO and could win by default, while 4Power Consortium, which is made up of several Nigerian companies and an Indian firm, was the only bidder for Port Harcourt, which covers the oil producing region.

Sahelian Energy, a three year old company with no experience of running power assets, was the lead company in the only consortium bidding for the Kano firm.

There were no qualified bids for the Kaduna firm

So na Abdulsalami dem carry three of the most lucrative DISCOs carry give abi?

Ok o! even people wey no get any experience for running any known business in Naija were given the Disco to manage!

Well, like poor go always talk; GOD DEY!!