president buhari declares war on power sector

President Muhammadu Buhari has said the power situation in the country

is no longer a laughing matter

– President Buhari lamented that his administration is faced with the

predicament of privatisation of the power holding companies

– The organised labour said the economy had stopped functioning and

urged the president to map out policies to resuscitate it

President Buhari addressing the national Economic Forum retreat in

Abuja on Monday, March 21, 2016.

President Muhammadu Buhari has declared war on the country's power

sector, saying epileptic power supply is no longer a laughing matter,

Leadership reports.

READ ALSO: Buhari's government is weak – Ango Abdullahi

Speaking on March 21 at the National Economic Council retreat on the

economy at the state house conference centre, presidential villa

Abuja, the president revealed that his government has set a target for

themselves to generate ten thousand megawatts distributable power in

the next three years.

Buhari, who frowned at the privatization of the power sector, said it

is yet to yield the anticipated result as the quality of service had

not improved.

President Buhari further revealed that his government is embraced with

the predicament of privatization of the power holding companies,

pointing out that Nigerians favourite talking point and butt of jokes

had become the epileptic power situation in the country.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it is no longer a laughing matter. We must and

by the grace of God we will put things right. In the three years left

for this administration we have given ourselves the target of ten

thousand megawatts distributable power. In 2016 alone, we intend to

add two thousand megawatts to the national grid.

"This sector has been privatized but has yet to show any improvement

in the quality of service. Common public complaints are, constant

power cuts destroying economic activity and affecting quality of life.

High electricity bills despite power cuts, low supply of gas to power

plants due to vandalisation by terrorists,"he said.

The president listed other impediment to the country's electricity to

include outdated power distribution equipment like transformers, power

fluctuations, which destroys manufacturing equipment, household

appliances as well as low voltage which cannot power industrial

machines.

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