Commissioner Wants Nigerians To Embrace Power Sector Privatisation

The Rivers State Commissioner for Power, Mr Augustine Nwokocha, has  urged Nigerians to embrace the privatisation of the power sector as is aimed at enhancing the nation’s development.

Nwokocha told newsmen in Port Harcourt that electricity supply would improve tremendously after the privatisation.

He said that  the privatisation of the sector would also boost the nation’s economic growth as small, medium and large scale industries would thrive.

Nwokocha, a former lawmaker in the state, said that investments in the country would also thrive and the living standards of the people would improve.

He said the government’s inability to ensure 100 per cent availability of electricity was due to other pressing needs bothering it.

According to him, this is the situation that led to the privatisation.

“What government needs to do for the people is not to subsidise power for the people, but to make it available for the people to subsidise.

“If there is power in the communities, some people will use it for lighting, some will use it for welding, some will do hair-dressing, while some will sell soft drinks and water.

“But, if we have the mentality that privatisation will make people not to get the power and have no job to feed on, we will wallow in poverty.

“Today telecommunication has been privatised; are we not buying phones and paying to recharge it? So people should face the reality and improve the economy,” he said.

Nwokocha urged Nigerians to help Federal and State Governments to improve on economic growth.