The NSE Ikeja Branch has constituted a high level Ad-hoc Committee on Power with the focus on advising the President of NSE Engr Babagana Mohammed who has just been appointed on the Special Purpose vehicles on the Presidential Power Initiative. The committee will brainstorm
In his address, the Chairman of the Branch, said the constitution of the committee was occasioned by the appointment of the President of the NSE, Engr. Babagana Mohammed, FNSE into the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of the Presidential Power Initiative by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.
According to him, “The struggles of our dear country with the generation, transmission and distribution of stable electricity over the years and the impact on our growth and development have been far-reaching. It would seem that all efforts at creating an enduring framework on this all-important sector of the economy have proved abortive, hence the need by the President of the Federal Republic to set up the SPV as an entity that would oversee the overall activities in relation to power projects as an important to rejig the government’s commitment to firmly redirect engagements in the sector towards getting the desired result from all the initiatives and projects.”
Further, he noted that “the appointment of our President places the responsibility on us all as Engineers to rise to the occasion and rally round the President in the discharge of his duty on this all-important national assignment.
“We have to a very large extent struggled with power in Nigeria. Till now we are still not generating 10,000mw and this is a nation of over 200 million people. As a matter of fact, we can’t talk about industrialisation if power is not fixed. Government is thinking in the right direction by ensuring that we have engineers in the high-powered panel.” he said
In his own address, the the chairman of the ad-hoc committee, Engr Olu Ogunduyile thanked the Branch for the initiative and described the Ikeja Chairman as an Action man and commended the initiative. He recognised the various members of the committee who are distinguished engineers with experience in power sector of the economy.
Ogunduile, quoting a well known proverb said that the smallest of actions on your plan is always better than the boldest of intention. He expressed satisfactions at the enthusiasm of the committee members to deliver on the assignment and say that the engineers have to live up to their reputation as a solution providers who make things happen.
It is a team work, collective effort. When we do it together, we transform. somebody that is weak become a strong person. I give it to you and I’m telling you on behalf of the committee that by the grace of the Almighty God, a good will be delivered.
Thank you very much!
Engr. Olu Ogunduyile who is also the MD Kenol Nigeria LTD also said with the input of engineers in the power sector, it would make the Executive Order 5 of the Federal Government effective while a lot of engineers and Nigerians would be empowered when the power sector is working.
Engr. Ademola Olorunfemi, a past President of NSE who was Special guest at the event used the occasion to congratulate the new chairman of NSE Ikeja Branch and expressed his confident that he will sure leave indelible legacy in sand of time. He commended him for hitting the ground running and reiterates his unflinching determination to continue to make his wealth of experience and services available to the branch. Engr Olorunfemi spoke on the value and importance of high level ad-hoc committees using his experience as President of NSE. He therefore commended the NSE Ikeja branch for seeting up such high level group of people and siad their recommendations will go far in contribution to national development.
The Adhoc Committee which consists, nine distinguished members of the NSE was occasioned by the appointment of the President of the Nigerian Society of Engineers, Babagana Mohammed into the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) of the Presidential Power Initiative by the President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, the committee is made up of eminent experts in the Power sector consisting of top executives of major stakeholders in the sector with the mandate of deriving a position paper of technical propositions and advisories that will serve as a primary guide to the SPV in carrying out its mandate towards the realization of the objectives of the Presidential Power Initiative.
Speaking virtually at the inauguration, Babagana Mohammed, described the initiative by its Ikeja branch as laudable stressing that it would engender an enduring framework on the all-important sector of the economy.
Engr. Mohammed advised members to do a thorough proposition for the development of Nigeria promising that the society would give them the needed support.
Based on some of the tasks before the SPV panel as follows:
1. An urgent review of the entire privatization exercise.
2. It should set for itself and the nation an ambitious power generation target and put robust machinery in motion towards achieving it.
3. To ensure full adherence to the implementation of customers’ access to the meter by DisCOs.
4. The panel should look at the industry desired cost-reflective tariff but should not shy away from ensuring that customers enjoy excellent services from providers.
5. The concessionary loan and PPPI agreement(s) of all projects should be implemented and executed in such a manner that reflects the interests of Nigerians and stands to benefit them.
6. As a matter of urgency, the panel should seek meaningful collaboration with all the stakeholders to identify existing and current obstacles to progress.
7. Town hall with customers, GenCOs, and the 11 DisCOs to fully appreciate first hand the burning issues is recommended.
8. The panel should seek to draw from the wealth of experience of Governor El-Rufai in his capacity as the chairman of the committee on review of the ownership of the Electricity Distribution Companies (DisCos), a former Director-General Bureau of Public Enterprise, BPE.
9. To seek inputs from former ministers of power from 1999 to date
The members of the Power Committee are: Engr Olu Ogunduyile, Chairman, Engr Akinsola Cole, Vice Chairman; Engr M. B. Odetokun, Engr. Adegboyega Adeleye, Engr Olajide Kumapayi, Engr Bunmi Daramola and Engr Ayodele Sagoe, as commitee members. while Engr Atinuke Wuraola Owolabi and Mr Messiah Ameh served as the secretary and assistant secretary respectively.
Written by Isqil Najim, you can reach him on twitter @isqilnajim