TheCable

Chris Imumolen, the presidential candidate of the Accord Party, says the government must handle the power sector with integrity to achieve remarkable growth.  

Imumolen spoke at a recent media chat in Abuja.

The presidential hopeful, who lamented the current status of power generation and supply, said it was unfortunate that Nigeria had only been able to cover 50 percent of the country in terms of power supply since independence.

He said the power sector has to be opened to local and international players, adding that its current status as a stiffly regulated sector was not suitable.

Imumolen said more players are needed in the generation, transmission, and distribution segments, as he urged the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to ensure the sector is deregulated.

Condemning the spate of corruption in Nigeria’s power sector, the presidential aspirant asked how the about $5 billion tariff generated annually is utilised. 

According to him, for Nigeria to escape the low power supply to homes and industries, corruption must be tactically killed, and the business of energy generation, transmission, and distribution must be entrusted to the hands of professionals and not to political clients.

“For a remarkable impact and success to be recorded in the power sector, it must be handled with government sincerity as a vital sector tightly hinged to national development,” he said.

“With adequate power supply, a palpable economic vibrancy will be injected into the economy and large, small and medium eneterprises will boom.” 

Imumolen also said there was an urgent need for a more friendly investment atmosphere that would attract players to Nigeria’s power sector for improved electricity stability.

He further described Nigeria’s inability to provide adequate power for its citizens since 1960, as disgraceful, adding that the country can only attain overall productivity, prosperity, and development when its sectors thrive.