National Leader, All Progressives Congress, APC, for Persons with Disabilities, PWDs, Tolu Bankole, has expressed confidence in his party’s Presidential Candidate, Bola Tinubu, to reinvigorate the power sector within the country.
Bankole in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, recalled the achievements made by the two-time governor of Lagos state in generating electricity, while urging the electorates to support Tinubu in the 2023 general elections.
According to him “No one is better prepared to sustain these gains than an APC administration led by Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In a pioneering feat in 2000, Tinubu partnered with AES Nigeria to build an Independent Power Plant to generate 270MW for Lagos residents.
“The power generated was consumed locally but later transmitted to the national grid due to some challenges in the operational framework in the energy sector.”
Speaking on the recent speech by the President on the budget presentation on Friday,where he highlighted the transformational strides that have been made in Nigeria’s challenging power sector, among which are the Siemens Power Program, with the German government under which over 2 billion US Dollars will be invested in the Transmission Grid.
Also that Tinubu had said, “Yes, we face serious problems. But I believe that we have it within us to reach our finest destiny. With help from God, we shall make this nation better for the generations to come.”
Therefore, Bankole said, “With a Tinubu President in 2023, the new administration will continue his trail blazing partnership and encourage active private sector involvement in the generation and distribution of electricity.
Energy experts have revealed that with the required maintenance and monitoring, state electricity markets will undoubtedly influence an increase in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth of 12%.
“In tandem with the call for state electricity markets as against state owned electricity market, Tinubu will emphasize generation of environmentally friendly power in different parts of the country taking advantage of the natural endowment and peculiarities of each state.
“Off-grid options such as solar at very affordable rates for individuals and households will be encouraged. There shall be a deliberate regime friendly policies toward acquisition and usage of solar energy in the country. This will result in whole scale acquisition of the solar technology skills/ technical know- how, by Nigerians via capacity training, scholarship and internship to scale up the much needed manpower in the power sector and employment in Nigeria.
“Industries will be incentivised to generate their energy with support from government, through tax holidays and friendly importation arrangements of power equipment. Government will give sovereign guarantee to individuals and corporate organisations with wherewithal to venture into generation and direct sale of power to companies and individuals. State government will be encouraged and supported to do same thanks to the Electricity Bill 2022.
“He will sustain the Siemens Power Program with the goal to upgrade existing energy infrastructures and promptly replace moribund ones to guarantee efficiency in the complex power matrix and optimality in revenue collection.
“A vote for Tinubu Presidency in 2023 General elections is a vote for competency in solving the endemic power sector crisis once and for all in a manner that will lead to comprehensive, affordable, available, safe and constant power for Nigerian homes, investments and industries.”