President Buhari who may have given up his campaign promise of a stable power due to the current economic reality, has reduced his promise of 20,000 megawatts of electricity in the next 3 years to 10,000. The president made this known at the ongoing economic retreat holding behind closed-doors inside the old Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
State governors who are members of the council, some members of the Federal Executive Council, heads of some government’s departments and agencies as well as some state commissioners are attending the crucial retreat.
President Muhammadu Buhari personally declared the meeting open. Before the start of the closed-door session, Buhari read a keynote address; Osinbajo delivered his opening remarks while the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara State also delivered a goodwill message.
President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed that his administration would generate 10,000 megawatts of distributable power over the next three years, against 20,000 promised. He pointed out that the power situation in the country was a serious matter.
He said,
“Nigerians’ favourite talking point and butt of jokes is the power situation in our country. But, ladies and gentlemen, it is no longer a laughing matter.”
“We must and by the grace of God, we will put things right. In the three years left for this administration, we have given ourselves the target of ten thousand megawatts distributable power.
“In 2016 alone, we intend to add two thousand megawatts to the national grid. This sector has been privatised but has yet to show any improvement in the quality of service.”
It would be recalled that in making public their plans for the country during the 2015 election campaigns, the All Progressives Congress (APC) assured the people of 40,000 megawatts of electricity within four to eight years.
“The APC government shall vigorously pursue the expansion of electricity generation and distribution of up to 40,000 megawatts in four to eight years,” APC had said.
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