Power supply: Yar’Adua
reads riot act to oil companies
From LUCKY NWANKWERE, Abuja
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
In its determination to resolve the power problem in the
country, the Federal Government has vowed to apply stiff sanctions
against international oil companies operating in the country
that fail to meet their obligations under the emergency situation
soon to be declared in the power sector.
Presidential spokesman, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi who made this
known Monday in Abuja when he fielded question from the State
House correspondents said, President Umaru Yar’Adua
was more than resolved to ensure total compliance by the oil
companies.
“The president means business on this issue and wants
to see more commitment from the oil companies doing business
in Nigeria, but he also believes in the virtue of dialogue
and compromise,” he stated, pointing out that some of
the oil companies had shown signs of non-cooperation, ìbut
now they are beginning to realise the resolve of the president.”
“Some of them are showing signs of non-cooperation but
now they are beginning to realise the resolve of the president
because once the emergency is declared in the power sector,
there will stiff sanctions if they fail to meet their obligations
and all these will be clearly spelt out as pre condition for
continued operations in our country.
While Nigerians await the declaration of state of emergency
on the power sector, the presidential spokesman has assured
of a gradual but steady improvement in the power situation
in the country.
Disclosing that the power situation is being steadily addressed,
he explained that the noticeable improvement in power supply
across the country in the last three weeks had been because
his government had effectively tackled the problem of system
collapse which had gone on for years.
He promised the country would continue to witness a gradual
increase in the power situation until the people could begin
to take electricity for granted like most developed countries.
Adeniyi also said the president had sorted out the issue of
funding for power on the short term basis with the governors
and once the monies were duly appropriated in the states,
Houses of Assembly and the National Assembly, everything would
be in place, adding that the strategies for the long term
had also been put in place.
“Once all the issues are sorted out with all stakeholders,
the emergency will be declared but even before then, the power
situation is being addressed and all the targets will be met,”
he further declared.
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