Group Executive Director, Gas and Power, Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. David Ige who made the revelation at the closing ceremony of Ehingbetti said the Federal Government has remarkably improved gas supply to power plants across the nation adding that vandalisation of gas pipelines remains a a clog in the wheel of progress.
”About three years ago, the total gas supply was three million cubits, but that has been multiplied to about one trillion cubit. We have grown gas supply astronomically but we have got to confront the activities of vandals who are frustrating government’s effort to ensure stable power supply. Whenever any of our gas pipelines is vandalized, about 30 percent of our gas supply capacity is affected.”
He called for the cooperation of all stakeholders including the people to tackle the menace.
Also speaking, Commissioner, Rates and Market Competition, Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Mr. Eyo Ekpo explained that to accelerate power delivery, there was need to remove all the impediments.
Ekpo urged the state government to consider tax incentives and other institutional reforms that could endear the private sector to invest in power opportunities.
”Government can provide or acquire the land, facilitate right of ways for gas pipeline and transmission equipment, reduce taxes or give some kind of tax incentives. That is, enabling the private sector. All these can help to accelerate the delivery of power to the state”.
In his address, Lagos State Governor Mr. Babatunde Fashola said power sector is now private sector driven.
“Let no one be in doubt, it is no longer government affairs anymore. But we know that the private sector require government support to function effectively through their policy.
“This is what Lagos state government is committed to. This was why we have made power the key issue at this year’s summit . We do so because we believe that this summit with its remarkable achievement of implementing 90 percent of the resolutions made since 2000 can solve this power jinx or at least making an impact on the power challenge over the next two years”.
He emphasised that the state requires power for industry, agricultural, transportation and housing sectors.
“The private sector requireS funding, gas, safety of its asset in order to function optimally. Lagos state government sees a partnership role here, with the new owners of power assets. The partnership role that we can share data with them,
“Citizens have role to play now. If we are consuming power, we must show up now that we are consuming power because the power companies need to know who are consuming the power generated. So that they can plan and produce power”, he said adding that the state government will need to make laws and regulations to protect the assets of the power companies and to enable security formation to evolve.
