Danjuma Goje, senator representing Gombe central, says Nigeria should allow China or another advanced country to manage the nation’s power sector for 20 years to achieve a stable electricity supply.
Goje, a former minister of power and steel, spoke on Wednesday during the senate screening of Joseph Tegbe, minister-designate for power.
Goje said Nigeria should consider a wholesale agreement covering generation, transmission, and distribution instead of fragmented reforms in the sector.
“The best thing to do, in my opinion and in the opinion of some others, is to swallow our pride, call on one of the major successful advanced countries, preferably China, because of their cost of labour is generally is low,” he said.
“Give them this project of power in Nigeria: ‘Run it for 20 years, Give us stable power. Get your money back and move out’.”
Goje said stable electricity supply would unlock development across all sectors of the economy.
“And within these 20 years, we’ll have stable power. And you know the meaning of stable power is it means real development. All other areas will work perfectly. And we’ll get it right,” he said.
The senator criticised piecemeal reforms in the sector, citing the Siemens power project as an example.
“But when you go to Siemens, Siemens will take one section of the power sector and ‘we’ll do something about transmission’,” he said.
“By the time they finish transmission, the problem will erupt in the generation. Then they’ll go to generation. After generation, the problem will erupt in distribution.”
Goje said distribution companies were failing to provide basic infrastructure such as transformers.
“These days, even transformers are not provided by the distribution companies,” he said.
The lawmaker urged Tegbe to consider negotiating a comprehensive arrangement with China or another country to overhaul the sector.
“So, Mr. nominee, when you’re appointed, and you go to the Ministry of Power, I want you to ponder over this idea of wholesale getting into agreement with China or with any other country, preferably China,” he said.
“Come and have a look at our power sector wholesale — generation, transmission, distribution, and see how we can get it right at least for the next 20 years, so Nigeria will now develop and catch up with other countries.”
Goje said the arrangement would not amount to debt accumulation because the foreign partner would operate the sector, recover its investment, and exit.
“And whatever the cost is, I think it is worth doing it,” he said.
“We are already used to taking debts. This is not debt. They will run the business, make their money, and leave us with a stable light.
“I want you to ponder about this. Maybe like I said, it’s a crude idea, but I believe it is workable.”
