FG Threatens To Sack Non Performing Contractors By June

The Federal Government has threatened to sack any of the contractors involved in the construction of its power transmission lines who fails to perform up to 50 per cent  by the end of June.

Governor EmanueUduaghan of Delta State disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the board meeting of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company presided over by Vice President Amadi Sambo.

Uduaghan said Sambo handed down the warning when it was discovered that transmission lines were one of the major challenges hindering power supply in the country.

He quoted the vice president as saying that once such contracts are revoked at the end of June, they would be re-awarded to contractors that have been found to be performing.

The governor also said that the meeting identified shortage of gas supply as one of the major challenges hindering power supply.

He said while reviewing the Independent Power Plants being constructed across the country, it was discovered that the units/turbines in the Olorunshogo and Sapele Power Plants had been complete with the plants capable of generating 450MW and 250MW respectively.

He however said that the plants could not generate power because of the challenges of gas supply just as it affects other plants.

Uduaghan said President Goodluck Jonathan had constituted a committee that will address the challenge and expressed the belief that the problem of power supply would be addressed before the end of the year.

He said, “Unfortunately we have challenges with gas supply affecting these two plants (Olorunshogo and Sapele) just as it is also affecting other plants across the country.

The governor however said that in moving forward, Nigerians must be prepared to pay appropriately for power, saying it is not cheap to generate and distribute power.

Also, Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, expressed the belief that the measures that would be suggested by the committee set up by the president on gas supply would go a long way in resolving the issue.

He also disclosed that the President has called for a power retreat with stakeholders on power and gas expected to be in attendance, assuring that the issue would be resolved before the end of the month.