The Federal Government is ramping up the construction of hydropower stations to reduce the nations over dependence on gas powered generating stations and improve the energy mix for the country. The Government is also appealing to the community leaders in the Niger Delta to enlighten youths in the area against vandalisation of gas and petroleum pipelines and safe the environment from further degradation even as the government prepares to start the clean-up of Ogoni land.
Power, Works and Housing Minister, Babatunde Fashola, also commended the United States Government for its partnership with the Federal Government in developing the Power sector. This is an event put together by the United States Government as part of its power Africa programme designed to help in increasing access to electricity on the African Continent. The power Africa programme is today signing an agreement that will see 3 distribution companies of Benin, Eko and Abuja having locally based experienced advisers brought in by the United States government. It will also lead to access to about 9 million dollars yearly.
Speaking on the initiative, the Power, Works and Housing Minister, who was represented by his special adviser, Lanre Akinsola expresses his delight at what he describes as a step aimed at assisting Nigeria’s Power Sector. He however disclosed that the Federal Government is working to increase the nation’s energy mix by ramping up construction at some hydropower stations while also close to concluding procurement for smaller ones.
