Power Sector: Senate begins probe on misappropriated funds since 1999

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Senate will today begin investigation into alleged unwholesome practices in the power sector from 1999 till date, spanning through the administrations of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, late Umaru Musa Yar’Adua and Goodluck Jonathan.

The probe is to be carried out by an Ad- Hoc Committee on Power, inaugurated for that effect by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, penultimate Friday, under the chairmanship of Senator Abubakar Kyari (APC Borno North).

Clerk of the Senate Committee on Power, Cletus Ojabo, in a statement yesterday, said the probe would be informed of investigative hearing/interactive session from and with various key stakeholders of the sectors during the period under review.

According to him, “the investigation will centre on funds appropriated for the power sector since 1999 to the point of unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and all matters connected therewith.”

Saraki had, at the inauguration of the committee, charged it to conduct a comprehensive probe of allegations of questionable practices in the power sector.

He lamented the continued absence of regular supply of electricity despite the country’s huge investments in the sector and admonished the committee members not to disappoint the Senate in the onerous task and by extension, Nigerians.

A charge the committee chairman, Kyari, said, would be taken very seriously by every member of the committee, as he provided detailed explanations into the nature of the investigation expected to be carried out on the sector.

He said: “A close look at the entire power value chain (generation, transmission and distribution) calls for review of our policies in order to obtain optimum performances across the board. The abysmal performance of the generation segment is no longer news, in view of the current deteriorating power supply, which hovers around 4,600MW for a population of over 170 million people, despite the huge resources committed into it. This, compared with our contemporaries, is highly regrettable. No wonder so many companies have relocated from the shores of this nation due to increasing cost of production.

“The issues of turnaround maintenance, gas pipeline vandalisation, just to mention but a few, are some of the teething problems bedeviling the sector. We must address it now in order to stem this destructive tide. The committee will beam its searchlight in this direction to put things in proper perspectives.

“Having realised that the transmission segment is the major linkage between the generation and distribution fronts, increasing our capacity in this direction is also very necessary, since power produced must be utilised immediately. Deteriorating infrastructures in this segment must be addressed forthwith. The committee attaches great importance to this and would work assiduously in ensuring that all these leakages or slippages in this area are brought to the front burner and dealt with.

“It is in line with this objective that the committee would be seeking explanations from the management of Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) on the terms of their management contract with the Federal Government as it relates to assets inherited, funds injected into the company so far and the achievement recorded,” he said.