By Etuka Sunday
The Minister of State for Power, Mohammed Wakil has said that the ongoing capacity building in the power sector would tackle the current post-privatisation challenges.
Wakil observed that training was key in the acquisition of expertise, therefore, must be present as the nation expects nothing but uninterrupted power supply.
A statement by the Deputy Director, Press, Timothy Oyedeji said the minister spoke at the weekend while receiving a delegation from the African Development Bank Group (AfDB), led by a Lead Economist, Barbara Barungi.
He said stated that the Government, after successfully privatized its generation and distribution companies, is billed to focus on the formulation of policy and oversight functions, as these assets are now in the hands of private companies.
According to him, government was aware of the enormity of privatization, especially as it was done in a single swoop, hence it has provided a safe net to absorb the shock through various capacity-building initiatives like effective communication, Data management, Information Technology that would assist in tracking the sector’s activities among others.
Also speaking at the event, the Power Permanent Secretary, Amb. Godknows Igali said that success in the post-privatization power sector is solely dependent on the ability of the sector to get it right with capacity building.
While pointing out Government’s priorities for the sector, Igali said that there are areas of need for which African Development Bank’s intervention fund could be channeled to include transmission expansion, Operation Light up Rural Nigeria and most importantly, Capacity Building.
He said that although Nigeria has accessed part of the facility given to it, by the Bank, because of the stringent conditions, the remaining part cannot be utilized, he therefore pleaded with the AfDB to step-down on some of the conditions.
Earlier, the leader of the AfDB delegation, Babara Barungi described Nigeria’s power privatization exercise as “a global comprehensive power reform for which the Bank is proud to be associated with”. Little wonder, since the handling of the power assets to private owners, there has been tremendous interest shown by investors from around the world.
According to her, the Bank’s interest is in the area of developing working models using the platform of Private Public Partnership (PPP), is very urgent, stressing that the Bank will further support other bankable initiatives in the sector.
