Nigeria’s Minister of State for Power, Zainab Kuchi, has said the government is poised to improve electricity supply across the country in line with its power transformation agenda.
Kuchi disclosed this in Gombe North-East Nigeria while on an assessment visit to the Dadin-Kowa dam in the state.
She expressed government’s desire to see the actualization of the hydro power component of the dam.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo, shortly after visiting the Dadin Kowa Dam, the Power Minister said President Goodluck Jonathan’s power transformation agenda intends to give the desired power to Nigerians.
She said: “We have the transformation agenda on power to actualize if we are working towards 24/7 without a blink, anything that adds power to the national grid is what we are after.”
Kuchi said the Gombe State Government has been given the go ahead to take over the Dadin Kowa hydro electricity project and deliver same without delay.
She said: “If we concession a place to an independent power project concessionaire and for seven years he has not completed it, we should be worried. We went there and we have seen what we should see and we are confident that the Gombe State Government should take over this project.”
Responding, Governor Dankwambo thanked the Federal Government for its support to the state and commended President Goodluck Jonathan for working round the clock to better the living condition of Nigerians.
He however pleaded with Nigerians to be patient with government as it strives to correct the ills of the past.
He said: “I know the ministry for power and particularly President Jonathan is concerned about power. A lot of neglect has been done over time and people expect him to do magic and bring power over night. I’m sure it will take sometime to do so.”
He pledged Gombe State Government’s commitment to the Dadin Kowa electricity project, which would boost economic activities in the state.
He said: “I assure you, these are some of the quick wings that we can use to improve on what we have been doing in the power sector reform. We are investing our money in the sector, in order to give more power to our people because we need power.”
When completed, the Dadin Kowa hydro power project would generate over 40 mega watts that would boost electricity supply in Gombe and the entire North-East region of Nigeria.
Nigerian Government committed to transforming power sector
