VICE President Kassim Shettima has said that Nigeria will fully work when the south east performs optimally in industrialization with adequate power supply.

He equated the region with the Jews, whom he said are “practically mobile, economically enterprising and educationally ambitious.”

The Vice President disclosed that he rejected a proposal that suggested to cut off the south east from electricity supply due to a debt profile, noting that President Bola Tinubu means well for the nation, noting that the south east and the Governors of the zone are the bests among others.

The Vice President made the remarks during the launch of South East Business Roundtable “Light up Nigeria Program”, conducted by the Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited, NDPHC, in Enugu, on Monday.

Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State said that the ‘Light-Up Nigeria Project’ signals a new dawn for power and industrialisation of the South East region, noting that the initiative aligns with his administration’s disruptive approach to governance underpinned by thinking outside the box.

According to Vice President Shettima, “We have to make the South East work; we’re targeting the south east for a two million job for women and the youths. We’re proceeding to Abia state to commission the power station built by the elder statesman, Prof Barth Nnaji and we will also commission some road projects and back to Enugu to commission the Smart school because education is the greatest gift you can give a generation.”

In his remarks, the Managing Director/CEO of NDPHC, Engr. Chinedu Ugbo said that the forum provided an opportunity to interact with the Vice President and the business clusters in the south east, adding that the lunch was also for the South-East phase of the strategic collaboration between NDPHC and other project parties to provide steady and reliable electricity supply to industrial and business clusters across Nigeria.

Ugbo stated that one major challenge the NDPHC has was the lack of sufficient transmission and distribution infrastructure to transport power from the plants, adding that another challenge stems from financial difficulties in the electric power sector, leading to inadequate payments by distribution companies and Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading company (NBET) to generation companies like NDPHC.

“The huge indebtedness to the generation companies affects the ability of the generation companies to pay for gas supply leading to gas supply shortage and the resulting low generation. At a recent press conference, the Honourable Minister of Power, rightly identified this severe liquidity crisis as a major impediment to electricity supply in the country with over N1.3 trillion owed to generation companies. NDPHC alone is owed close to N200bn out of that.

“These challenges of lack of sufficient transmission and distribution infrastructure to transport electricity from the plants and the sector market liquidity crisis have resulted in gross underutilisation of installed generation assets with unserved potential grid electricity consumers, particularly industries (some of which are represented here today), resorting to expensive and often inefficient selfgeneration.

“In response to these challenges, NDPHC initiated the Light up Nigeria Project, which aims to provide reliable and affordable electricity supply to industries and homes by utilizing underutilized generation capacity, establishing trading agreements with bulk purchasers of electricity, and mobilizing investments to address technical, commercial, and collection losses in the supply chain. Additionally, NDPHC aims to receive full payment for the electricity generated and delivered, without relying on the Federal Government for such payments.

“The project aligns with the Electricity Act of 2023 (graciously signed into law by His Excellency Present Bola Tinubu GCFR), which provides a strong framework for state governments to develop electricity markets at the sub-national level, with the aim of delivering consistent and affordable electricity to residents. Through the Light up Nigeria project, state governments will derive the benefit of increased access to electricity, attraction of investment opportunities, revenue generation and economic growth. At the Federal level, the project will help to reduce the financial burden on FGN’s balance sheet from debt exposure of NBET.

“The project is further reinforced by NERC’s MYTO 2024 which mandates distribution companies to secure adequate bilateral contracts and exit from contractual relationships with NBET. NDPHC remains at the forefront in pursuing bilateral electric power sales and other projects that ensure efficient and targeted electricity delivery to end-users.”

NaijaPrince18:
But they can’t make south east work. That’s why they keep running to the south west. The north is the reason Nigeria doesn’t work. They are completely useless in everything. I cannot stand them

Massiveglory:
The rejected stone has become the chief corner stone. This is marvellous in our eyes.
A new Nigeria is POssible.

richidinho:
Lagos with all their IGR could not achieve this since 1999

Godbless Alex Otti OFR

Godbless Labour party

SpartaOfLagos:
They know the truth and already admitting it

South East is blessed by God

Hating on south east is like hating your maker

Ezeama400:


Imagine someone that is afraid and even defecate on his boxers whenever Nigerian break up is mentioned and equally afraid of having his own country is busy here saying Igbos are coming to SW..

Igbos that are known for buisness don't stay one place to run their deals, they leave their comfort zones, make exploits, establish branches, and take advantage of opportunities you are lazy to take.. It's not a coincidence that they are dominating the major market in your region...
A wise man that wants to succeed should learn, not sleeping on nairaland hatinggg

adamusuleiman2:

Lagos has several IPPs. Abia is just celebrating 1 and they won't let us rest. Same way they were celebrating gutters.

NaijaPrince18:

You basically are admitting that SW is richer and better than you and that’s why you keep running there. Maybe SW needs to move to SE to make it work because Igbos are not intelligent enough to do it

Ezeama400:


Are you blind to see the pictures of your parents I posted that are selling Agbo in Agbo in Awka ?

What are they doing there ?

NaijaPrince18:

10s OF YORUBA IN EAST COMPARED TO MILLIONS OF IBO IN THE WEST. The 10’S ARE ALREADY PAINING YOUR NECK. SOON THEY WILL OWN THE WHOLE YEAST

Ezeama400:


Just like Igbos are pushing you people back to Osun state with their skills in acquisition of land and properties in Lagos despite your hostility

adamusuleiman2:

Lagos has several IPPs. Abia is just celebrating 1 and they won't let us rest. Same way they were celebrating gutters.

NaijaPrince18:

10s OF YORUBA IN EAST COMPARED TO MILLIONS OF IBO IN THE WEST. The 10’S ARE ALREADY PAINING YOUR NECK. SOON THEY WILL OWN THE WHOLE YEAST

Zupay:


LET THEM OWN THE WHOLE YEAST BUT GBOS WILLL RISE!

NaijaPrince18:

THEY WILL OWN THE EAST

Massiveglory:
The rejected stone has become the chief corner stone. This is marvellous in our eyes.
A new Nigeria is POssible.

NaijaPrince18:
But they can’t make south east work. That’s why they keep running to the south west. The north is the reason Nigeria doesn’t work. They are completely useless in everything. I cannot stand them

yarimo:
Only few individuals knows how to press east mumu button well done shettima

adamusuleiman2:

Lagos has several IPPs. Abia is just celebrating 1 and they won't let us rest. Same way they were celebrating gutters.

NaijaPrince18:

You basically are admitting that SW is richer and better than you and that’s why you keep running there. Maybe SW needs to move to SE to make it work because Igbos are not intelligent enough to do it

Massiveglory:
The rejected stone has become the chief corner stone. This is marvellous in our eyes.
A new Nigeria is POssible.

Ezeama400:


Imagine someone that is afraid and even defecate on his boxers whenever Nigerian break up is mentioned and equally afraid of having his own country is busy here saying Igbos are coming to SW..

Igbos that are known for buisness don't stay one place to run their deals, they leave their comfort zones, make exploits, establish branches, and take advantage of opportunities you are lazy to take.. It's not a coincidence that they are dominating the major market in your region...
A wise man that wants to succeed should learn, not sleeping on nairaland hatinggg