LET THERE BE LIGHT!
America Hails Nigeria for Liberalizing Power Sector…Private Firms promise to Stabilize Electricity
*‘Obama Govt to provide $7bn for 6 African Nations including Nigeria for over 5 Years’–United States Embassy
BY LAWAL KEHINDE/ENERGY EDITOR, WEST AFRICA
HOPE rises for Nigeria’s power sector, as United States Government have applauded the pragmatic steps being undertaking by the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan to bring constant electricity supply to homes of the Nigerian people. Of particular mention by the American government is the manner the Nigerian government is planning to liberalize the power sector by contracting transparently power companies to ‘credible and responsible private firms’ to run the nation’s electricity uninterruptedly.
In a press statement titled ‘The United States Government’s Power Africa Initiative Celebrates the Government of Nigeria’s hand-over of power companies to the private sector’, sent to Naija Standard Editors through the Information Office, Embassy of United States in Abuja; it states that United States Chargé d’Affaires Maria Brewer said “the United States Government is proud to have contributed to this historic handover of power companies to the private sector and congratulates the Government of Nigeria on achieving a very important milestone in the liberalization of the power sector.”
Naija Standard gathered that these comments were made in response to the Presidential handover of the Licenses and Share Certificates to the new owners of the PHCN successor generation and distribution companies. The ceremony marks the beginning of the transition period in which the new owners will work with the existing management of the successor
companies to ensure a successful takeover and represents one of the first Power Africa successes.
Obama to release Funds for Africa’s Power Sector
Power Africa, a new U.S. Presidential Initiative to double access to power in sub-Saharan Africa, has supported this transfer of assets from the public to private sector. U.S. President Barack Obama, through Power Africa has committed to providing seven billion dollars over the next five years to support six African countries, including Nigeria. USAID Mission Director Michael Harvey said “the U.S. will continue to partner with Nigeria to advance a seamless transition from public to private sector management of the power sector to ensure that the Nigerian people
have access to electricity.”
The U.S. supports today’s achievement and encourages the Nigerian Government to sustain progress in the sector by addressing such critical needs as adequate transmission, gas
availability, and a cost reflective tariff. Power Africa brings to bear a wide range of U.S. tools to support investment in Africa’s energy sector, including policy and regulatory best practices, pre-feasibility support, capacity building, long-term financing, political insurance, guarantees, credit enhancements and technical assistance. Power Africa also provides coordinated support to help
African partners expand their energy generation, transmission, and distribution
capacity and access.
#For more information, visit Power Africa at www.usaid.gov/powerafrica or contact:
Josephine Kamara, Senior Development Outreach and Communication Specialist
