By Chris Udochukwu
Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar on Thursday denied having any interest, direct or indirectly in any generator company, adding that his aspiration to be President is to protect the interest of the average Nigerian in all circumstances.
Atiku made this clarification in a statement released via his verified twitter handle @atiku in reaction to the development in power sector within the last two days.
The former President also said that his solution to electricity crisis as contained in his policy document titled “My Convenant with Nigerians”, remains the most proactive plan to lead Nigeria out of darkness.
He further hinted that with his policy, an industrial dispute with the FG in Abuja should not affect an industry in Lagos or a factory in Aba or in Kano or even an average Nigerian who just wants to get home, watch the news and sleep under a ceiling fan.
The statement reads in full:
Having keenly observed developments in the power sector within the last 24 hours, I am again convinced that my solution to the electricity crisis, as encapsulated in my Policy Document, My Covenant with Nigerians, remains the most proactive plan to lead Nigeria out of darkness.
In this regard, my approach is to first remove the entire electricity value chain from the exclusive list and give states the power to generate, transmit and distribute electricity for themselves.
An industrial dispute with the FG in Abuja should not affect an industry in Lagos or a factory in Aba or in Kano or even an average Nigerian who just wants to get home, watch the news and sleep under a ceiling fan.
Secondly, my policy shall aim at achieving greater coordination of investments in the entire electricity value chain.
Investments in additional generation capacity are futile without consideration for the complementary transmission and distribution infrastructure to wheel the additional energy.
Any investment in additional generation capacity would be competitively procured considering a viable mix of renewable (hydro, solar, wind and biofuels) and non-renewable (coal, gas) options for energy security.
Thirdly, ahead of procuring additional generation, both transmission and distribution capacities would be enhanced with government and private sector support for investments.
In this regard, we shall incentivize private investors to invest in the development of multiple green-field mini-grid transmission systems to be looped into the super-grip in the medium to long term while allowing the FG focus on policy, regulation, and standardization.
My aspiration to be President is to protect the interest of the average Nigerian in all circumstances, and on this, I stand to say that I have no interest either directly or indirectly in any generator company, as has been publicly revealed. – AA
Recall that there is a video in circulation online to the effect that there is no conscious plan to fix the electricity sector because some politicians are making fortune from the importation and sale of generator sets.
