ABUJA — The ongoing probe of the power sector from 1999 till date by the Senate ad hoc committee was characterized by drama and confusion yesterday, as the proceeding was disrupted by power failure eight times.
Yesterday’s proceeding started at about 11:30a.m. and ended abruptly at 4p.m. due to about 15 minutes of power failure at intervals, for eight different times, from 2p.m. when the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Ambassador Godknows Igali, was making a submission on behalf of the various electricity companies.

[img]http://cdn1.vanguardngr.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/412x250xJonathan-Yardadua-Obasanjo.jpg.pagespeed.ic.ttOsJXWoOm.webp[/img]
Jonathan, Yardadua and Obasanjo

The situation forced operators from the power sector to make use of their phone light and video camera light to make presentation before the committee.

Despite the situation, the lawmakers continued with the proceedings without microphones and other electrical appliances needed. The cameramen, on their part, had to use their camera lights to capture the meeting.

Following the power outage, the committee had no choice but to resort to the use of rechargeable lamps and camera lights
Chairman of the Committee, Abubakar Kyari (APC, Borno North) also had a dose of the power failure as he was interrupted while commenting on issues raised by some of the stakeholders.

‘It’s sabotage’

Moved by the development, Senator Kyari, after the session, told journalists that the committee would investigate what led to the power outages during the session, alleging that it was sabotage aimed at frustrating the committee.

He vowed that the public hearing proper on the sector would hold in due course, adding “the power outages experienced here today (yesterday) further underscores the relevance of this committee at this critical time, but we shall investigate whether or not they are deliberate.”
Other stakeholders of the power sector, who were caught in the power outage, while making presentations, were the Director-General of Bureau of Public Enterprises, BPE, Benjamin Ezreal Dikki; Chairman of National Electricity Regulatory Commission, NERC, Sam Amadi and some of the Managing Directors of electricity Distribution Companies, DISCOs.

Investors state challenges

Earlier, investors in the sector in their various submissions lamented that they were running it at great losses on monthly basis due to myriad of factors.

In his presentation, the Managing Director of Enugu Distribution Company, Mr. Robert Dickerman, who spoke on behalf of all DISCOs, disclosed that the entire industry was being run at a deficit of N20 billion per month, which he argued was attributable to the fact that over 50 percent of electricity consumers were not metered and about 30 percent were not even on the billing system of the service providers.
He also alleged that the N100 billion subsidy injection into the sector promised by the Federal Government was not fulfilled.

The CEO, Ibadan Electricity Generating Company, Adeoye Fagbembi, who spoke on behalf of the six GENCOs, said transmission loss between them and the electricity distributors have been a big issue.

The BPE Director- General, Benjamin Dikki, in his submission, said the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, has paid N5 billion of the N100 billion promised by the government, just as he admitted that the sector was presently being run at a loss by the investors, adding that the losses at initial stages were envisaged as embedded in the performance agreement reached with the investors.

50% of Nigerians don’t use meter


In his own presentation, Chairman of NERC, Dr. Amadi, who refuted allegations that the Transmission Company of Nigeria, TCN, will soon be privatized by the Federal Government, revealed that over 50 percent of Nigerians do not have meters, thereby reducing revenue generation potentials of distribution company.

Amadi noted that lack of meters, which was a major problem, had left many Nigerians saddened, saying that one megawatt of power cost as much as $1 million.

… on power distribution

He said: “We are working hard so that none of the discos fail. Consumers are very angry about lack of meter. Only less than 50 percent of Nigerians have meters. It is one of the major problems. In the past decade, we did not invest in metering.

“A moderator brought the idea of paying for meter since customers cannot wait for too long; the customers can pay for their own meter but when the new owners came, they had to take some time to understand the way it goes.”

He agreed that metering is the major problem in the power sector because it is more expensive although it will help the country save revenue.
According to him, “each time we hit 4500 megawatts, people always say that the electricity has improved and there is always a level of comfort. We also want to put more pressure on the distribution companies and they want to see Mgbede generation.

“What has delayed many of these companies till now is because the licences could not get financed.
“In the next 20 years we will be able to have about 2000 megawatts.”

He concluded by saying that the power sector was getting better as there is need for improvement in capital investment, which should come from the private sectors.

http://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/09/drama-as-power-failure-disrupts-senate-probe-on-power/#sthash.89Bz0o4l.dpuf

The senate shouldn't even worry as Buhari's body language ( is it now body odor) will fix it.

Funny...smh

Lol, that's more reason the probe must continue.

Someone has been running to and fro aso rock since the probe commenced.
Nigeria is fraud and cannot stand. A divided house can never achieve anything good quote me any day any time.
We will remain like this for centuries. When power returns to the North,the south revolt and vice versa

Very funny...


pls kwantinu d probe...

over 2trillion naira was wasted on power from 1999-2014, and till day we can't boast of any steady power supply. Many countries around the world didn't use half of the amount we wasted on power but today they are enjoying a steady power supply.

There are big industries around the world like tractor, cat, etc who uses more our silly 4000megawatts in just their respective manufacturing industry.

Hmmm south/Africa here, uses about 45000megawatts and they are trying to go nuclear energy very soon, but in Nigeria here, with our estimated population of about 200million people, na only 4000 we fit produce. na wah

Such a co-incidence. I hope Buhari breaks this power jinx!

The irony is not lost on us...

The Discos are operating at a loss and one facebook user posted that Buhari in BBC Hausa Service asked them to choose between refunding their gains after privitization and providing steady electricity, forgetting that its te government that will even need to refund the investors the money they paid so far in buying the various Discos. Governance by Body Language

Good evidence

ellabooz:
Lol, that's more reason the probe must continue.

Someone has been running to and fro aso rock since the probe commenced.
Nigeria is fraud and cannot stand. A divided house can never achieve anything good quote me any day any time.
We will remain like this for centuries. When power returns to the North,the south revolt and vice versa

China is a multi-ethnic nation swimming in secularism, but the country is working

Nigeria is not as diverse as Indonesia, but today they are ahead of us.

Turkey
Russia
Spain
Malaysia
Brazil
In fact about 75% of the nations in the world are secular states but the are working fine. The earlier you people drop this backward black(sorry to use this word) mentality the better for all of us.... Bad leadership has always been the barn and tag of Africa nations. We Africans are simply greedy, wicked and heartless. It is always "US" before anything else. Smh

The senate don't have steady power supply and they want to give us steady power supply. Are they super men? Hehehe. I forgot, buhari said i shouldn't laugh.

F

in terms of power mismanagement obj is the biggest thief, over 16billion dollars spent during his tenure on power alone, with nothing to show for it. I wonder how Nigerians worship the destroyers of this nation.

at the end of the day this probe wouldn't see any light, we in a very big problem in this country.

Kastonkastroll:



China is a multi-ethnic nation swimming in secularism, but the country is working

Nigeria is not as diverse as Indonesia, but today they are ahead of us.

Turkey
Russia
Spain
Malaysia
Brazil
In fact about 75% of the nations in the world are secular states but the are working fine. The earlier you people drop this backward black(sorry to use this word) mentality the better for all of us.... Bad leadership has always been the barn and tag of Africa nations. We Africans are simply greedy, wicked and heartless. It is always "US" before anything else. Smh

That's why you fail exam, secular nation has nothing to do with unity.
They are never divided,they are on agreement,that's why it's working out for them.
The south and the North can never agree on anything. One is blood thirsty and the other is fun loving.

The answer to their progress is UNITED IN DIVERSITY.

It's good that they have a taste of what the masses have been experiencing most of the time.

ellabooz:


That's why you fail exam, secular nation has nothing to do with unity.
They are never divided,they are on agreement,that's why it's working out for them.
The south and the North can never agree on anything. One is blood thirsty and the other is fun loving.

The answer to their progress is UNITED IN DIVERSITY.

Hmmm you must be from the other side of the Niger. Anyway whatever that makes you happy, suit yourself cuz I have no further argument with you......

Lol...calling the Senate bluffs.Well,who wouldn't ? pack of thieves.

good acting nepa

warrior01:
The senate shoueven worry as Buhari's body language ( is it now body odor) will fix it.

So shameful

Abeg I can't laugh jare

[size=15pt]I can't remember seeing any probe by NASS yielding any good result.
The few ones I remember either backfired or ended in scandals.[/size]

Okay and they said that after 100 wasted years that light has improved...


As I am typing this message, I do not have light at home... If I am telling a lie, let me not make any money till the year ends...

LIGHT NO DEY DEY AGAIN HERE FOR ABJ

k

Great they experienced power failure there also, now let's see the outcome of their probe, if after the power failures the people involved comes out clean then all senators should be locked up in kirikiri till further notice

Many times, I've been interrupted too when watching football matches or playing video games

So, it's not a sabotage

That's what the masses face daily

lol..

Down here in Unilag, its 24hours standby light...So this is none of my business

PHCN.......everywhere you go......

Evil political forces @ work but LIGHT will always triumph over DARKNESS!!
Change is here for good!!