Adequate understanding of energy sector operations will motivate Nigerians to protect power assets- Fashola
NAN-HE-27
Power
By Kingsley Okoye
Abuja, May 3,2017(NAN) The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola has said that a knowledge and understanding of the workings of the nation’s power sector will make Nigerians protect the power assets in their localities.
Fashola said this at the presentation of a book titled “ Power Sector Under President Muhammadu Buhari “ in Abuja on Wednesday.
The News Agency of the Nigeria (NAN) reports that the book was written by Mr Uche Aneke, a journalist and currently the General Manager, Public Affairs Department, Nigerian Electricity Management Services (NEMSA) .
The 18-chapter book highlights the activities and successes recorded in the power sector since the emergence of the current administration under President Buhari.
Fashola, who commended the author for documenting the activities of government in the sector, said that the book was an important contribution to one of the objectives of the current administration.
He said the best way to get Nigerians to support any project was to educate them on the workings on that project.
“ “Because the easiest way to get Nigerians to do something is to make them understand it , is to make them embrace it, is to make them own it once Nigerians own an idea, that idea works.
““I can say on behalf of Mr. President and the Federal Government, this book is very instructive and a helpful contribution to the power sector.
“”I say so, because one of the things we try to do is to make people know places where power assets exist ,so that we understand all of the dos and don’ts that make up the entire power system.
“”And we are opening up these knowledge so that people will actually know that from this source station , energy is reaching my business and my home and that knowledge will ultimately help overcome many of the challenges.”
Fashola further said that the book would help to strengthen the campaign against vandalism.
“ “When people begin to know that this transformer , this line supports my home , they will help protect it, so in that sense, this book is a welcome contribution.“”
He said that the author had become a strong voice in the conversation of power supply.
“”Any time I read you, the impression I get is that you are helping to smoothen the riddles that many uninformed experts, who dominate our sector has created in the sector“,” he said.
He said that the book was a major contributor in helping the government drive the economy out of recession noting that power sector was one of the focus of the Economic Recovery Growth Plan of the Federal Government.
Fashola promised to send copies of the book to the President, other members of the Federal Executive Council, leadership of the National Assembly and leadership of the Judiciary.
This he said would also make them have an insight on the current reform going on in the power sector and key into the reform process.
The author of the book , Mr Uche Aneke said that the minster had brought on board fresh thinking that was repositioning the power sector.
He said that the book was an effort to document activities in the power sector, especially the giant strides the minster had recorded since his appointment.
He said that the book was a testimony of the untiring efforts of the Federal Government in archiving the road map of incremental, stable and uninterrupted power supply in the country.
High point of the event was the presentation of copies of the book to the minster.
Present also at the event were the Special Adviser to the President, on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, who wrote the forward of the book, and the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Power, Mr Louis Edozie. (NAN)
KC/YAZ
Edited by Yusuf Zango