The Senate has advised the federal government to appoint a separate minister for the ministry of power to ensure optimal performance.<\/p>\n
Under the present administration, the ministry of power is combined with those of works and housing, with Babatunde Fashola overseeing them.<\/p>\n
The Senate also urged the government to immediately incorporate special purpose vehicles (SPVs) for the implementation of alternative energy projects, which included the hydropower projects, solar power projects and the wind power projects.<\/p>\n
It equally urged the federal ministry of power, works and housing to use gas as a source of energy for the Kaduna project in accordance with its original concept.<\/p>\n
This followed a resolution on a motion on \u2018The Need to Establish and Delegate Special Purpose Vehicles to Execute and Operate Major Power Sector Development Projects\u2019.<\/p>\n
The motion was sponsored by Mustapha Bukar (APC-Katsina<\/a>).<\/p>\n Bukar recalled that the federal government in 2004, conceived the idea of an integrated power project which metamorphosed into Niger Delta Power Holding Company Limited (NDPHC), incorporated in 2005.<\/p>\n \u201cThis was in government\u2019s quest to bridge the power gap for sustained economic growth in Nigeria by adding significant new generation capacity to Nigeria\u2019s electricity supply system,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n He said the national assembly enacted the Electric Power Sector Reform (EPSR) Act, 2005 on March 11, 2005, which kick-started the process of privatisation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI).<\/p>\n The legislator said the act was in a bid to develop a competitive electricity market with the establishment of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).<\/p>\n The function of NERC is to provide for the licensing and regulation of the entire value chain of the Nigerian Electricity Market (NEM).<\/p>\n \u201cThe privatisation exercise became effective on Nov.1, 2013 when the unbundled Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) was sold and transferred to successful bidders of the six Generation Companies (GENCOs) and the 11 Distribution Companies (DISCOs).<\/p>\n \u201cThe ownership and control of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) was retained by the Federal Government for strategic reasons,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Bukar also said consequent upon the commencement of the privatisation and establishment of the Nigerian electricity narket, the role of the ministry of power, works and housing was restricted.<\/p>\n Contributing, Eyinnaya Abaribe, chairman, committee on power, said the committee was already acting along its own mandate for oversight.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are working toward ensuring that these concerns that have been raised by this motion were looked into.<\/p>\n \u201cThe ministry of power today is combined with works and housing and the thrust of the ministry is to give quality direction.<\/p>\n \u201cBut, what we find is that the ministry continues to appropriate these jobs that are specifically meant to be done by agencies under it.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are taking measures to see whether we can bring back the ministry to what it ought to be,\u201d Abaribe said.<\/p>\n In his remarks, Ike Ekweremadu, deputy Senate President, who presided at plenary, said every talk about growing the economy would not work unless the power sector was repositioned.<\/p>\n \u201cWe need to create a situation where we have energy sufficiency; so long as the private sector depends on private arrangement for energy requirements, the cost of goods will continue to be high, especially the ones produced here.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is important that we all work toward ensuring power sufficiency in the country and ensure that it is sustained,\u201d Ekweremadu said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Senate has advised the federal government to appoint a separate minister for the ministry of power to ensure optimal performance. Under the present administration, the ministry of power is…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":3666,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_active":false,"_exactmetrics_sitenote_note":"","_exactmetrics_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[1515,611,157],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Babatunde-Fashola-1-690x450.jpg?fit=690%2C450&ssl=1","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":36189,"url":"https:\/\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/senate-asks-presidency-remove-power-fasholas-3-1-portfolio-seeks-appointment-new-power-minister\/","url_meta":{"origin":36292,"position":0},"title":"Senate Asks Presidency to Remove Power from Fashola’s 3-in-1 Portfolio, Seeks Appointment of New Power Minister","author":"Arinze Ago","date":"October 18, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The poor power generation and distribution in the country took the center stage in the Senate on Tuesday, as after over one hour of debate on ways and means to improve the power sector, the upper chamber resolved to ask President Muhammadu Buhari to appoint a separate power minister with\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Babatunde Fashola, FG, Buhari,","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Babatunde-Fashola-1-690x450-1.jpg?fit=690%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Babatunde-Fashola-1-690x450-1.jpg?fit=690%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Babatunde-Fashola-1-690x450-1.jpg?fit=690%2C450&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":38108,"url":"https:\/\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/no-factual-basis-allegations-fashola-replies-melaye\/","url_meta":{"origin":36292,"position":1},"title":"‘There is no factual basis for the allegations’, Fashola replies Melaye","author":"Reporter","date":"November 10, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Minister of power, Babatunde Fashola, has debunk all allegations of financial impropriety levied against him by Kogi West Senator Dino Melaye. Melaye had reported that the power ministry diverted $35 million to the Afam fast power project without the approval of the national assembly. He also said a sum of\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Babatunde Fashola, FG, Buhari,","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Babatunde-Fashola-1-690x450-1.jpg?fit=690%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Babatunde-Fashola-1-690x450-1.jpg?fit=690%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Babatunde-Fashola-1-690x450-1.jpg?fit=690%2C450&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":10931,"url":"https:\/\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/fg-not-frustrating-lagos-government-fashola-hits-back-ambode\/","url_meta":{"origin":36292,"position":2},"title":"FG Not Frustrating Lagos Government \u2013 Fashola Hits Back At Ambode","author":"Damilare Salami","date":"March 10, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing Mr. Babatunde Fashola has actively responded to the allegations that the ministry he is heading is frustrating development plans of the Lagos state government. Fashola responded through a press release on Thursday made public Hakeem Bello, Special Adviser to the minister on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"akinwunmi-ambode-and-babatunde-fashola","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/akinwunmi-ambode-and-babatunde-fashola.jpg?fit=720%2C399&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/akinwunmi-ambode-and-babatunde-fashola.jpg?fit=720%2C399&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/akinwunmi-ambode-and-babatunde-fashola.jpg?fit=720%2C399&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/akinwunmi-ambode-and-babatunde-fashola.jpg?fit=720%2C399&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17595,"url":"https:\/\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/fg-employ-47000-workers-fix-roads-fashola\/","url_meta":{"origin":36292,"position":3},"title":"FG to Employ 47,000 Workers to Fix Roads – Fashola","author":"Arinze Ago","date":"May 5, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"A former governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola has revealed the current administration will create thousands of jobs through road construction projects. The Federal Government will employ 47,000 people to fix federal roads across the country, the Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, has said. According to him,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Babatunde Fashola, FG, Buhari,","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Babatunde-Fashola-1-690x450-1.jpg?fit=690%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Babatunde-Fashola-1-690x450-1.jpg?fit=690%2C450&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/Babatunde-Fashola-1-690x450-1.jpg?fit=690%2C450&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":56156,"url":"https:\/\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/nigerias-power-generation-hits-7000-mega-watts-fashola\/","url_meta":{"origin":36292,"position":4},"title":"Nigeria’s Power Generation Hits 7,000 Mega Watts – Fashola","author":"Damilare Salami","date":"August 3, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola, has said that Nigeria\u2019s current power generation has reached 7000 Mega Watts. Fashola said this on Friday in Calabar at the Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing 4th Edition Retreat for top directors, heads of units and chief executives\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Fashola, APC, PDP, INEC, #NigeriaDecides","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Fashola.jpg?fit=400%2C500&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":25576,"url":"https:\/\/www.citypeopleonline.com\/2017-budget-senate-slams-fashola\/","url_meta":{"origin":36292,"position":5},"title":"2017 budget: Senate slams Fashola","author":"Daniji Emmanuel","date":"June 24, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"The Senate has warned Minister of Works, Housing and Power, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, to stop spreading wrong information and half-truth about the 2017 budget as the legislators worked to ensure equity across the country on all new and outstanding projects. 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