Speaking at a book launch in Lagos titled: “Solar electricity generation for off-grid communities in Nigeria” written by the Managing Director of Eko Electricity Distribution Company, Engr Oladele Amoda, Fashola said the fear of privatisation is uncalled for and “it is the best way to go for now because more hands are needed in the sector.”
He stressed that it takes a huge capital and policies to run the power sector and the innovation of solar at this crucial time is a welcome development.
He commended the Federal Government for jerking up the megawatt from 2600MW in 2015 to 7000MW in 2017. According to him, “what we need now is to cooperate with discos and expand distribution but grid extension is capital intensive, that is why solar energy is in order to reach those that are off the grid.
“Someone who is whined in the old power sector, now recommending new power (Solar) is worth applauding.” He lamented that the country over 17 years have had eight Ministers of power and that has not really helped the sector.
In his remarks, the former of Minister of Power, Prof Bath Nnaji, said it saddens his heart that the country is yet to get it right in terms of electricity production in the country.
“I said during the reform process that if you are good, the privatisation process will take you to the next level, Amoda is a typical example,” he said.
However, the author of the book, Engr Oladele Amoda said the purpose of writing the book was to support the less privileged who cannot afford to pay their bills.
Amoda stressed that the book came to limelight as a result of encouragement he got from his lecturers, during his master class at the University of Lagos, who described his thesis as the best at that time.
“My lecturers encouraged me to transform my thesis into a book, as it is best as at that time,” he said.
He, however, commended Fashola and Nnaji for their commitments to serve their fatherland because “supervising the ministry of power isn’t a joke.”
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