Grim Darkness: Cancel Power Privatization Agreement, Senate Tells FG

'Dotun Akintomide
Writer
Lawan: How 9th Senate Passed 500 Bills in 4 years

Ad

Trump slams Norway’s $2 trillion wealth fund over Caterpillar divestment

By Obinna Uballa The United States has slammed the decision by Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, the largest in the world with assets worth about $2 trillion, to sell its stake in United States machinery giant Caterpillar, describing the move as troubling and based on “illegitimate claims.” In recent weeks, Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM), which…

Reaction as Police Invite El-Rufai, ADC Leaders Over Allegations against State government in Kaduna

By Abiola Olawale The Kaduna State Police Command has invited former Kaduna State Governor, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, and seven other members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for questioning. The invitation, issued on September 4, 2025, cited allegations of criminal conspiracy, incitement of public disturbance, mischief, and causing grievous hurt. According to a letter signed…

Enugu tragic accidents: Dangote warns against unauthorised use of logo

• Denies involvement in Edo, Enugu accidents By Obinna Uballa Dangote Industries Limited (DIL) has renewed its warning to truck operators against the unauthorised use of its logo on vehicles not affiliated with the company, following two fatal crashes involving Dangote-branded trucks along the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway on Wednesday. The company stressed that despite repeated…

Ad

…’We may not have power for another ten years’ –Lawan

  • Senate Committee Set To Probe Into All Intervention Funds In Power Sector

The Nigerian Senate on Tuesday asked the federal government to cancel the privatization process and agreement in the power sector as grim darkness continues to pervade the nation’s landscape, seven years after leaving the distribution and generation ends in the hands of private sector players.

Recall, the privatization process was carried out during former President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration in 2013, with the government now overseeing only the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN).

Following the epileptic power that the privatization has failed to address, the Senate warned that Nigeria as a country may not have power supply in the next ten years.

Speaking yesterday during discussions on a motion titled, “Power Sector Recovery Plan and the impact of COVID- 19 Pandemic, President of the Senate, Senator Ahmad Lawan said that it is disheartening that with huge sums of money spent so far on the Power, results are not being realised.

Lawan stated that the committee would investigate trillions spent so far to revigorate the power sector without commensurate results.

He said, “We gave power to them (Power generation and distribution companies) and they still come to the public to ask for funds. I think it’s time for Nigeria to consider reversing the privatisation of the power sector or they should just cancel the entire privatisation process completely. If we leave it, we may not have power for another ten years.

“We expected efficiency and something better. DISCOS have no capacity to supply us power. We shouldn’t continue to give them money. They’re private businesses. We need to review this whole thing. Something is wrong.

“Our committee needs to investigate the trillions spent. That’s a lot of money. Try and find out what has happened so far. The government needs to look at this whole thing. Maybe the Government is not doing its own part. We need to find out. There is a lack of capital. We feel very bad. There is no electricity and the country is suffering.”

The Senate further asked the Federal Government to immediately suspend the planned electricity tariff increase due to take effect from July following the increased hardship occasioned by the Coronavirus, COVID- 19 pandemic.

It also called on the federal government, through the Ministry of Finance to include the Nigeria Electric Power Sector in the disbursement of proposed N1.7trillon Covid-19 intervention crisis fund.

The Senate has mandated the Senator Gabriel Suswam-led Senate Committee on power to investigate all Federal Government interventions in the power sector since the privatization of the sector to date with a view to ascertaining the adequacy of such interventions and their desired impact, and to report back within four weeks.

Ad

X whatsapp