‘You killed electricity with your generator importation business’ –Nigerians
By our correspondent
Citizens of Nigeria have poured their anger on the former Vice President and 2023 presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); His Excellecncy, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, over his recent comment on poor state of electricity in the country, attributing to him the genesis of the problem.
Recall that the northern part of Nigeria where Atiku comes from, has been plunged into persistent blackout following reported failure of the national grid which also affected other parts of the country.
Reacting to the development, the former VP in a statement he tagged ‘The electricity power crisis in Nigeria continues to be a matter of immense concern’, made some suggestions which drew the irk of Nigerians.
Atiku said “In particular reference is the situations in both the Southeast and the entire states of the Northwest and Northeast that have been in complete blackouts in the past three weeks.
Every government department responsible for addressing the problem must be quick in its intervention and restore electricity back to the distressed geopolitical zones.
“Meanwhile, I still believe that my solution, as encapsulated in my Policy Document, ‘My Covenant with Nigerians’, remains the most proactive plan to lead our country out of perennial darkness.
There is an urgent need to remove the entire electricity value chain from the exclusive list and grant states the power to generate, transmit, and distribute electricity for themselves.
“I firmly believe that an industrial dispute with the Federal Government in the nation’s capital should not affect industrial activities in any of the states or cities of the country.
Even as we focus on investments in additional generation, there’s a compelling need for capacity for the complementary transmission and distribution infrastructure to transport the supplementary energy produced.
“Considering that energy opportunities exist in different parts of the country, our strategy should be a viable mix of renewable (hydro, solar, wind and biofuels) and non-renewable (coal, gas).
I wish to restate my earlier recommendation to encourage private investors to invest in developing multiple green-field mini-grid transmission systems to be looped into the super-grid in the medium to long term. -AA”
Responding via X App (formerly Twitter), angry Nigerians accused Atiku of frustrating efforts by former President Obasanjo’s administration which he served as Vice President for eight years, to salvage the power sector.
Some of their reactions as captured by our correspondent are as follows:
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“Dear @atiku
Why is it that you seem to be living in the past? As a former Vice President and a perennial presidential candidate, I find it quite shocking that you are not updated at all on the current status of the power sector as regards regulations.
For your information since 2023, Paragraph 14 of the 2nd Schedule of 1999 constitution (as amended) has effectively decentralised power generation, transmission and distribution by empowering states to legislate and regulate electricity generation, transmission and distribution within their states.
It allowed states to have a mini-grid and manage their electricity market. In June 2023, President Bola Tinubu assented to the Electricity Act 2023, which repealed EPSRA 2005 and allowed states to create an electricity regulatory commission.
In case you’re not aware, states like Enugu, Imo, Ondo and Ekiti have created their state electricity regulatory commission and applied to NERC to transfer regulatory powers for intrastate generation, transmission and distribution of electricity to these commissions in line with Section 71(1) – (8) of the new Electricity Act.
So, you see my dear Atiku Abubakar, what you are still proposing has already been carried out since 2023. That states are not taking advantage of this newfound freedom to participate in the electricity market is not the fault of the President. In fact it shows how complicated our electricity sector especially when government still subsidise a huge chunk of electricity for Nigerians on band B to E.
As a high ranking leader, I expect you to at least make little attempts to understand what the issues are before rushing to make ignorant and mostly mischievous statements and insinuations.
On the ongoing transmission challenge being encountered by TCN which has adversely affected power supply in the northeast, northwest and parts of north-central, it is due to a fault that has now been identified on the Ugwuaji-Apir 330-kilovolt (kV) double circuit transmission line. The fault area is within the swampy forest of Igumale, Benue state.
@TCN_NIGERIA had stated that due to the difficult and swampy nature of the terrain, it would require to move a bulldozer and other materials for the repair works from Enugu Regional office of TCN to the site of the incident, which it has done and repair works ongoing. The TCN is using a Hiab vehicle, which also had to be moved to Igumale, to properly tension the transmission line. Give them to rectify the fault.
Meanwhile TCN has also stated that the larger Shiroro-Mando transmission line, which supplies more power, remains out of service due to insecurity in the area where it was damaged in the North West. As a matter of fact, the transmission tower was deliberately destroyed by bandits as the military intensified raids and offensive against them.
So, you can see that the issue is beyond following your so-called Atiku Plan template. Even if states had mini grids today (which they are already empowered to establish), there is no guarantee that the transmission lines/towers won’t encounter faults or vandalism, which would still certainly plunge the areas they serve into darkness.
Please Mr. Atiku you need to get fresh advisers and aides that are up-to-date with happenings in the country especially as regards legislation so that you’ll stop making a fool of yourself Sir”
Daalu.
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Except Atiku want to use this to score cheap point with the North just like his useless tweet about people that died from the fire incident scooping fuel from a Tanker. Atiku doesn’t care about good governance, just power.
Oseni Lanre
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Atiku was in charge of a failed multi-billion dollar electricity project as Vice president
-Debola
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He helped to supervise the underdevelopment of electricity in Nigeria with the importation of generators
-Oyekunle Fidelis
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Most of you are not informed at all, Elder Atiku has provided alternative source through Mikano, no more power issues… God bless Nigeria
-Gimta
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Atiku has a company selling generator as a VP den hypocrate
-AkobiOmoGusau
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When the elder refused to respect himself, little children will cover their face with a basket and speak to them in the language they understand. Nnam Daluu, Chukwu Gozie Gi.
-King of Salem
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We should understand the fact that Alhaji Atiku and his supporters are only playing to the gallery just to remain relevant.
-Omole Wole
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Una don sell una Mikano finish? Evil and incompetent leaders, past and present!
-Caroline Ladipo