The pact was signed involving three power distribution companies of Nigeria commonly known as DISCOS.
Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola at the event in Abuja lauded the current US Ambassador in Nigeria, James Entwistle for his love and commitment to fostering development in Nigeria. Describing the pact as another giant step towards Nigeria’s move to build an uninterrupted power source, Fashola said it was important for the country to diversify its power generation.
His words: “A partnership between the United States government, under the aegis of USAID and Power Africa initiative on one hand; and Nigeria’s power distribution companies, the DisCos, on the other hand.
“It is a partnership through which funds of $9 Million per year will be provided to improve performance of the DisCos through embedded advisors.
“This is another big step towards achieving our roadmap’s first phase of incremental power, by improving the performance of the DisCos.
“And I must on behalf of all the DisCos and the expectant Nigerian electricity consumers thank Ambassador James F. Entwistle for the love and support he has manifestly demonstrated for Nigeria since he reported for duty here in 2013.”
The Minister added further that, “Since Nigeria started producing oil, she has perhaps understandably built more gas fired power plants, some Hydro plants and largely stopped using coal.
“My recent visit to Oji River coal power plant in Enugu, which used to supply most, if not all of Eastern Nigeria, shows that not only is the power plant no longer in use, most of its operating parts have been dismantled.”
“At a time when the world is in dire pursuit of clean energy to mitigate the impact of climate change and global warming, gas fired plants provide a useful source of quick, large capacity electricity plants which can take us faster to our roadmap of incremental power.
“Regrettably, some of our people have attempted to turn a potential source of growth, development and shared prosperity into a source of risk, poverty and pollution,” He added
Source: Globalvillageextra
