Electricity: FG releases $3.7bn, targets 20,000MW

Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo

Vice-President Namadi Sambo on Sunday said efforts were being made to wheel about 20,000 megawatts of electricity for the country to improve power transmission.

A statement by the vice-president’s spokesman, Mr. Umar Sani, quoted Sambo as saying this during a meeting he held with members of the Nigerian-Canadian Association in Toronto, Canada.

Sambo said to achieve the feat, the government had last week approved the release of $3.7bn for the power sector.

“The Federal Government last week approved the sum of $3.7bn to improve power transmission so as to wheel 20,000MW,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Sambo told the gathering that the present administration was committed to the provision of necessary infrastructure.

He added that efforts were being intensified in the areas of power supply, transportation, aviation, Information and Communication Technology, agriculture and the provision of affordable healthcare services.

He also said the administration was addressing educational advancement issues with the provision of good governance.

He called on Nigerians in the Diaspora to come home and be part of the new development.

Sambo appreciated their contributions to national development, adding that it was in recognition of the contributions that a Diaspora bond of N1bn was set up.

The vice-president urged them to key into such a laudable initiative.

PUNCH