The Speaker
of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, yesterday decried the
yearly expenditure of $5 billion,
approximately N1.8 trillion for the procurement
of generators in the country.
At a public
hearing on the three bills aimed at repositioning the power sector, he assured
that the House would support the executive arm to find a permanent solution to
the power problem in Nigeria.
The speaker
disclosed that the House is reviewing some of the country’s energy laws in
order to provide an appropriate legal framework that would facilitate the
exploitation of renewable energy to the benefit of the economy.
Dogara
emphasised the need to explore the vast potentials in renewable energy to
complement other power sources based on the fact that it is a clean energy,
which is environmentally friendly.
According to
him, “Power is arguably the most important driver of the national economy.
Indeed, it is difficult if not impossible to imagine modern life without power.
Our industries and factories need electricity to run; and so do our offices,
homes and businesses.
“It is
estimated that Nigerians spend about $5 billion yearly to fuel their
generators. This is an unacceptable situation and the House of Representatives
stands ready to support the Executive arm of government to put a stop to this
state of affairs.
“Renewable
energy is a source of clean energy, which is environmentally friendly and is
crucial to the economy of the future. We can only be self-sufficient in the
energy field when we combine all of our energy resources such as wind, solar,
hydro, biomass, bio-fuel, landfill, sewage gas, solid waste, geothermal energy
and ocean energy.‘’
The bills
comprise a bill for an act to provide for the utilisation, sustainability and
adequate supply of renewable energy for electricity and heat generation and for
other related matters; a bill for an act to amend the National Electricity
Regulatory Commission metre reading, billing and cash collection and credit
management for electricity supplies and regulations to address matters relating
to outstanding liability of electric bills in rented apartments; and a bill for
an act to amend the electric power sector reform act to reposition the Nigerian
Electricity Regulatory Commission for effective service delivery and for
related matters.
Meanwhile,
the House yesterday adjourned plenary session in honour of their colleague, Abdullahi
Mohammed Wamakko, who died on Friday at the age of 50.
The late
Wamakko represented Kware/Wamakko Constituency, Sokoto State and until his
death, was serving his first term in the lower legislative chamber.
Members
eulogized the fallen lawmaker, describing him as a team member.
The Speaker
recalled that the late Wamakko was a patriotic, committed, peace-loving and
hardworking lawmaker who gave his best for the service of his people and said
the House will greatly miss him.
The House
similarly set up a committee to condole the family.
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