The Federal Government has said that contrary to media reports making the rounds, there was no plan to hand over the distribution companies to Siemens, as being insinuated in several quarters.
In a clarification statement issued by the Minister of Power, Sale Maman on Thursday, he noted that he did not disclose any proposal by the Federal Government seeking to handover electricity distribution companies to Siemens.
The Minister in a statement issued by his media assistant Aaron Artimas said, “Contrary to what is being reported, the Minister did not say that the Federal Government has submitted a proposal to the council seeking to handover electricity distribution to Siemens as that is not part of the agreement signed between the German company and the federal government of Nigeria”
The Minister explained that the government is much more concerned about the disruption of value chains and how to align for optimum distribution of power.
“For instance, if we generate 13 000 megawatts, we should be able to transmit the whole 13 000 and distribute the same, that way, Nigeria will be happy and everyone will have 24/7 of electricity.
The Minister expressed concern that even when the Discos received 3000 megawatts, they short-changed the system by paying for only 1000 megawatts adding that the government could no longer continue to subsidise their inefficiency.
