It’s not the government’s problem if Nigerians don’t have power – Fashola
Nigerians need to look further than the government for provision of electricity, Minister of Power, Babatunde Fashola has said.
Fashola, while addressing the audience at Nextier Power Dialogue on Wednesday night in Abuja, said there was only so much his ministry can do in providing Nigerian homes with stable electricity.
He based his position on the independence of the privatised sector.
“There are problems without a doubt and we must deal with them,” he said.
“But let me remind you, all of the assets that the Ministry of Power used to control for power have been sold by the last administration before I came. And so if you don’t have power, it is not the government’s problem. Let us be honest.
“The people who are operating the power sector, generation and distribution are now privately owned companies. I am here because I am concerned. If your telephone is not working, it is not the minister of communication that you go to. Let us be very clear.”
The former Lagos governor said that the NERC pulls the strings as the “referee” while his ministry has little influence on the outcome of the situation.
“So for those of you who want to weaponise electricity, face the businessmen who have taken it up. Let us be honest. If your bank over-charges you interest, is it the minister of finance you go to? So let’s be clear. This is now a private business by Act of parliament 2005,” he added.
“My role is regulatory, oversight and policy, but I have a problem which is the fact that I can’t see a problem and turn my back, so I’m getting involved. So the people you should be talking to about transformers is not me, the ministry doesn’t supply transformers anymore.”
The minister added that he never made a promise during election campaign that he would provide stable electricity six months after getting into office.
