The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee probing expenditures within Nigeria’s power sector has summoned the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to present themselves alongside pivotal investors to address electricity supply dilemmas in the nation.
The Committee’s Chairman, Mr. Ibrahim Al-Mustapha Aliyu, issued the summons after the Director General (DG) of BPE, Mr. Ayodeji Gbeleyi, made an appearance and provided his submissions during the ongoing investigative hearing convened in Abuja.
He stated that the Committee will reach out to the co-investors through the BPE, emphasizing that the agencies bear a crucial responsibility to elucidate issues before both the Committee and the Nigerian populace.
Furthermore, the Chairman accentuated the President’s efforts to facilitate settlements aimed at ameliorating the current situation.
“The Committee aspires to delve into the essence of the matter, rectify it, and progress from there,” he remarked, acknowledging advancements in power generation relative to previous years.
Mr. Al-Mustapha Aliyu noted that the decline of certain transmission systems can be partially attributed to the age-old installations and the withdrawal of a Canadian company, which has impacted service provision.
During his presentation, DG BPE, Mr. Ayodeji Gbeleyi, revealed that at the time of privatization, the Kainji and Jebba hydro power plants had a collective output of approximately 600 MW, which now supplies 1,100 MW to the grid, with nearly 20% coming from a single operator.
He asserted that the sector is steadily progressing compared to the era of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
“They may not have reached their optimal potential yet, but believe me, sir, we are starting to witness a turnaround in the sector. All crucial stakeholders are diligently working together to enhance the overall efficacy of the sector,” Mr. Gbeleyi concluded.
