Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), has faulted
the interference of the Federal Government in the independent power project
(IPP) initiated by his predecessor, Senator Bola Tinubu.
the interference of the Federal Government in the independent power project
(IPP) initiated by his predecessor, Senator Bola Tinubu.
Fashola, who expressed the
disappointment at the distinguished visitors’ programme of the Nigerian
Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Abuja, lamented that the project
would have brought major economic development to the state if it had not been
aborted.
He explained that the Tinubu administration entered into a Power Purchase
Agreement with Enron Nigeria Power Holding Ltd “to build the first independent
power project undertaken by any state in the federation.”
disappointment at the distinguished visitors’ programme of the Nigerian
Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in Abuja, lamented that the project
would have brought major economic development to the state if it had not been
aborted.
He explained that the Tinubu administration entered into a Power Purchase
Agreement with Enron Nigeria Power Holding Ltd “to build the first independent
power project undertaken by any state in the federation.”
He said the initiative suffered
needless political interference and Lagos still “bears the financial and
economic scars for it. One can only imagine what type of Lagos and indeed
Nigeria we would be living in today if 13 years ago that project had been
allowed.”
needless political interference and Lagos still “bears the financial and
economic scars for it. One can only imagine what type of Lagos and indeed
Nigeria we would be living in today if 13 years ago that project had been
allowed.”
According to the governor, “the level
of development we would have attained; the volume of manufacturing and various
types of economic activity that would be thriving today; the ideas and
innovation that would have sprung out of the type of enabling environment that
constant power supply engenders.”
of development we would have attained; the volume of manufacturing and various
types of economic activity that would be thriving today; the ideas and
innovation that would have sprung out of the type of enabling environment that
constant power supply engenders.”
He, however, advocated the culture of
conservation and preservation of electricity among Nigerians, saying it was the
only way to achieve real success in attaining the goal as the country strived
to ensure constant power supply.
conservation and preservation of electricity among Nigerians, saying it was the
only way to achieve real success in attaining the goal as the country strived
to ensure constant power supply.
He explained that the state
government’s water sector master plan “addresses the need for conservation and
is currently developing a mechanism to address losses through leak detection,
telemetry application; metering and water theft detection,” adding that plans
are underway to launch an awareness campaign on cable theft and the dangers of
destroying street light infrastructure.
government’s water sector master plan “addresses the need for conservation and
is currently developing a mechanism to address losses through leak detection,
telemetry application; metering and water theft detection,” adding that plans
are underway to launch an awareness campaign on cable theft and the dangers of
destroying street light infrastructure.
“We have found to our chagrin that
this is not enough. The only solution, in my view, is a holistic mindset change
amongst Nigerian citizens so that they see public utilities, not as government
utilities but as their utilities. Members of NERC have a greater role to play
to educate, inform and create the awareness that can bring about that mindset,”
he said.
this is not enough. The only solution, in my view, is a holistic mindset change
amongst Nigerian citizens so that they see public utilities, not as government
utilities but as their utilities. Members of NERC have a greater role to play
to educate, inform and create the awareness that can bring about that mindset,”
he said.
He added that the state currently
“has the most extensive power utility development plans in the country. In the
last three years, this administration has successfully commissioned two power
plants in Akute and Lagos Island respectively and one transformer factory in
Badagry while two others – the Alausa Power Project and Ikeja GRA IPP – are
under construction and at procurement stage respectively.
“has the most extensive power utility development plans in the country. In the
last three years, this administration has successfully commissioned two power
plants in Akute and Lagos Island respectively and one transformer factory in
Badagry while two others – the Alausa Power Project and Ikeja GRA IPP – are
under construction and at procurement stage respectively.
“The Akute Plant powers about 80 per
cent of the water supply in Lagos while the Island Power Plant provides
electricity to health facilities, schools and court buildings and public
lighting within Lagos Island. The Alausa Power Plant, when completed, would
supply electricity to the Alausa Secretariat while the Ikeja GRA IPP would
power government establishments within the old secretariat amongst others.
cent of the water supply in Lagos while the Island Power Plant provides
electricity to health facilities, schools and court buildings and public
lighting within Lagos Island. The Alausa Power Plant, when completed, would
supply electricity to the Alausa Secretariat while the Ikeja GRA IPP would
power government establishments within the old secretariat amongst others.
“Through these power plants, we have
witnessed vast improvements in our ability to deliver services to Lagos
citizens, one of the most valuable of which is in the area of public lighting.
It is our target to light up our streets, bridges and public places to reduce
security risks,” the governor explained.
witnessed vast improvements in our ability to deliver services to Lagos
citizens, one of the most valuable of which is in the area of public lighting.
It is our target to light up our streets, bridges and public places to reduce
security risks,” the governor explained.
Fashola reiterated that the success
of his administration’s pursuit of steady power and reliable water supply
depended “not only on the ability of government to provide them but also on our
sense of public ownership of these assets and our willingness to discharge the
communal duty of protecting them.”
of his administration’s pursuit of steady power and reliable water supply
depended “not only on the ability of government to provide them but also on our
sense of public ownership of these assets and our willingness to discharge the
communal duty of protecting them.”
Fashola also cited Magodo Estate in
Lagos which, according to him, consists of 3,276 houses that are powered by
4,656 generators with a total installed capacity of 51.2mw and a daily cost of
diesel amounting to N8 million. This, he added, translated to N49.24 per kw/hr
as against PHCN cost of N12.75 per kw/hr.
Lagos which, according to him, consists of 3,276 houses that are powered by
4,656 generators with a total installed capacity of 51.2mw and a daily cost of
diesel amounting to N8 million. This, he added, translated to N49.24 per kw/hr
as against PHCN cost of N12.75 per kw/hr.
He explained that the state
government’s power audit shows that the estate “requires only 30 mw and a total
power cost per day for the estate will be N2 million. Ikeja GRA consisting of
789 houses is powered by 804 generators with total installed capacity of 68mw
and daily cost of diesel put at N10.7 million. Our power audit shows that this
estate requires 59mw and the total power cost per day for the estate will be
N3, 040,000”.
government’s power audit shows that the estate “requires only 30 mw and a total
power cost per day for the estate will be N2 million. Ikeja GRA consisting of
789 houses is powered by 804 generators with total installed capacity of 68mw
and daily cost of diesel put at N10.7 million. Our power audit shows that this
estate requires 59mw and the total power cost per day for the estate will be
N3, 040,000”.
Source: Thisday
