RSG To FG: Privatise Power Distribution

The Rivers State Government, has said that Nigeria will continue to experience power outages unless the Federal Government transfers the distribution of power to the private sector.

The state Commissioner for Power, Hon Augustine Wokocha stated this yesterday at a press briefing held at the premises of the Trans-Amadi Gas Turbine in Port Harcourt.

He observed that no private person would like to invest his money in power generation when he was not sure of how it was distributed.

Hon Wokocha called on the Federal Government to dispose of the distribution of power to the private sector, noting that the state government in its efforts at making electricity available for the people has a total of four power plants which include the Trans-Amadi Gas Turbine with 136 mega watts capacity, Omoku Gas Turbine, 450 mega watts, Eleme Gas Turbine, 75 mega watts and he Afam plant which has 180 megawatts.

He disclosed that the state government was making a fresh move towards acquiring new 28 medium voltage substations equipment to be supplied by a French firm, Schneider Electric at the cost of 20 million Euros (N6 billion) with a view to ensuring that the state did not experience any form of power outage in the near future.

Speaking, the Vice President of Africa of Schneider Electric, Guillaume Schoebel expressed his company’s appreciation in entering into partnership with the Rivers State Government, saying that they would do everything possible to meet the deadline for the supply of the medium voltage substation equipment.

According to him, “ we will  ensure quality and supervision of the project and also ensure that every money invested by the government is well invested. We will also ensure that all the money spent by the government will bring electricity to the people of Rivers State”.

Shedie Okpara