Poor Power Supply: Fashola Apologises, Urges Patience

ehingbeti-2014

Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola yesterday acknowledged the epileptic power supply that Nigerians have had to face, and therefore appealed to the public to exercise patience in their bid to enjoy dividends of power sector reforms.

Fashola, who made the appeal in Lagos at the closing ceremony of the 7th Lagos Economic Summit, tagged: “Ehingbeti,’’ said the privatisation of the power sector will not be successful without the cooperation of investors and consumers.

He therefore urged the public to develop energy conservation culture and manage existing power infrastructure adequately.

“We should desist from illegal connections of electricity and ensure that our bills are paid appropriately. Electricity poles should not be used as speed breakers by reckless drivers; we should all protect the infrastructure from being damaged,” he said.

He assured the participants that the recommendations of the summit would be considered and implemented by the state government before 2016.

At the end of the three-day summit, the panelists suggested that improved network quality of electricity distribution, especially the installation of prepaid meters, would encourage a vibrant manufacturing industry.

They urged the state government to monitor power distribution to help reduce leakages and ensure that tariffs were cost effective.

According to them, the state government should serve as local regulators in terms of the provision of lands, easy access to permits to assist the power investors in rendering efficient service.

They also charged the state government to partner with various power distribution companies in the state to build independent power plants.