FG’S Intervention On Roads Has Improved The Quality Of Learning In Our Institutions- Prof. Angela Miri

The Vice Chancellor of Federal University, Lokoja, Prof. Angela Miri, has lauded Federal Government for the construction of internal road in the University which she said had improved the quality of learning in the institution.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony of the roads to the institution by the Honourable Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN on Tuesday 26th January, 2021 in Lokoja, Miri said that the road has not only made vehicular and human movement within the university easy but added value as well as placing it above its equals within the country in terms of provision of infrastructure.

The Vice Chancellor, who was represented by the University Librarian to the institution, Mrs. Sarah Daura Yank, further requested that the Minister of Works and Housing should consider replicating this gesture of constructing internal roads network at the University’s Permanent site at Felele Lokoja, Kogi State.

“The extension of roads infrastructure in Nigerian tertiary institutions by the Federal government will create a conducive learning environment that will improve attainment of qualitative education in Nigeria.” She added.
In his speech, the Minister of Works and Housing, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, SAN disclosed that the 1.67 kilometers road was constructed by his ministry at the institution to improve learning.

Mr. Fashola, who was represented by the Federal Controller of Works Kogi State, Engr. Kajogbola Olatunde, said that availability of good infrastructure in a learning environment would enhance students’ morale towards learning and the quality of education acquired by them.

He said:  "It is un- debatable that quality of education will be impacted by the quality of infrastructure and the learning environment and those who doubt it should simply listen to some of the feedbacks from the students in the schools where this type of intervention has taken place."

He noted that though the road projects might be civil works, they are investment in education, adding that the students' zeal to attend classes have been renewed because of the restoration of the deplorable roads within the institutions.

"A point must be made that although this is a civil works project, it is an investment in education and the students are expressing renewed enthusiasm with regards to attending classes because some defective roads have been restored to good condition," Fashola stated.

He explained: "Currently, there are 43 number of road interventions within tertiary institution across Nigeria" and "to date 29 No. of the road intervention projects have been completed with 17 already handed over in 2020. Today we handover this one in Federal University Lokoja, Kogi State as a critical intervention to support education."

According to Fashola, the Infrastructure gap in the country was steadily being bridged by a gradual process of repairs, renewal and construction on major highways and now it had reached the schools. Pointing out that the road construction was part of the Federal Government’s Tertiary Institutions Internal Road Intervention Programme and was supervised by the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.

The Minister said that   the construction work was not only impactful on the learning environment but had also provided employment opportunities for Nigerians in line with the present administration's vision of creating jobs for Nigerians.

"During the construction 25 people were employed in the process thereby contributing to the job creation initiative of the present government," he said.

Remarks Of The Honourable Minister Of Power, Works And Housing At The 29th Monthly Power Sector Meeting Hosted By Mainstream Energy (Concessionaires Of Kainji And Jebba Hydro-Power Stations) In Niger

In lieu of our monthly meeting for July 2018, I opted to brief the public about our progress so far in our journey to incremental power towards steady and, finally, uninterrupted supply.

In the process, I highlighted the challenges we have overcome and those we are dealing with, and what needs to be done and who has the responsibility to do so.

Those who know and who genuinely desire to solve problems in this industry do not need to be told that the most pressing challenge of the Sector today lies at the Distribution end.

Amongst the challenges at this sector of the value chain, (and there are problems in Gas, Generation and Transmission), the most urgent are Distribution of available energy to consumers, and there is an unused energy in the region of 2,000 Megawatts in this category.

The other, of course, is the supply of meters to consumers. These two issues of power distribution and supply of meters rank highest in the feedback from the stakeholders in the industry.

In order to address these challenges and find solutions to them, I issued policy guidelines and directives to appropriate institutions for them to act.

It is in this context that I think it is fortuitous that Mainstream is our host today, because my remarks will focus on the review of progress we have made with some of our policies.

I have always insisted that there must be methods to decision making, and this includes evaluation of decisions to see how they have progressed and what needs to be added or modified.

Therefore, we must understand that policies are not an end in themselves . Policies represent an expression of our hopes and aspirations and must be embraced, nursed and nurtured to deliver on all their capacities and possibilities.

In a sense, I liken policies to the human being. At birth, he represents the hopes of parents for tomorrow. Left alone, that infant is helpless, so he is dependent for feeding, clothing and all survival needs until he becomes ambulatory, able to stand, walk, talk, run, and matures into adulthood.

With this analogy in the background, I will address the progress of some of our policies for the benefit of members and the larger public.

A) N701 Billion Payment Assurance Guarantee

This was not in any law. It was a creation of the Buhari Government to give comfort to investors in the Generation side of the value chain that they will be paid for supplying power.

Since its implementation in 2017, recovery of payments by GENCOs has increased from 20% to 80%; and power supply capacity has improved from 4,000MW to 7,000MW and there is an appetite by other players to participate.

Is it perfect? Certainly not.

Do the GENCOs like it? I am sure that they will tell that 80% recovery is better for business than 20% recovery, but they would rather have 100% recovery.

But this is only one side of the coin. The other side of the coin is that GENCOs must transparently invoice for their output and, for example, we must harmonise the price of gas for payment under the scheme, where there are differential prices arising from different Gas suppliers.

Therefore, we must work as the parents and owners of the policy to nurture and improve on its capabilities.

B) Eligible Customer

This was introduced on 15th of May 2017, and the Regulations to govern it were issued by NERC on 1st of November 2017.

The purpose was, amongst others, to improve distribution side of electricity and facilitate better power supply to consumers who consumed up to 2MW and above.

From reports reaching me, 5 (FIVE) industrial customers are now benefitting from the policy and taking their power directly from a GENCO, who incidentally is our host today, Messrs Mainstream Energy Ltd.

We also have a list of 26 (TWENTY-SIX) industrial customers who are seeking to benefit from the policy.

The DISCOs must be interested to know that I have also issued directives to NERC to work out and implement Competition Transition Charges as provided by Law, to safeguard them from any losses.

We will continue to monitor the impact of the policy and remain flexible to keep what works and change what does not; and I urge everybody to remain open-minded, adaptive and responsive.

C) Meter Asset Provider (MAP)

This policy was introduced to address the meter supply gap, relieve the DISCOs of the financial burden of meters, allow entrepreneurs to take up this as a business and diversify the sources of meter supply.

The Regulations and Condition for its operation were issued by NERC on 8th March 2018.

Reports reaching me indicate that there is an embracement of the policy. Entrepreneurs are showing interest and talking to banks to raise finance.

Some DISCOs have signed up to the Government-Supported fund of N37 Billion and we will keep an eye on the progress of the initiative.

Government intervention in this regard is part of its role of enabling to be effective. It does not relieve the DISCOs of their contractual obligation to provide meters.

On the contrary it seeks to help them perform their contract.

D) Energising Educational Institutions and Markets

These are Government-led initiatives based on the Rural Electrification plan approved by the President in 2016 to provide access to power for rural dwellers and vulnerable members of our society.

We proposed to use 6 (SIX) small hydro dams that had been abandoned for decades, Federal Government owned universities and some markets as anchors.

Apart from the Universities, where Government is directly funding the intervention, the markets are being privately funded, contrary to the untrue allegations that have been made in the media, and I challenge those who made the allegation to provide proof to the contrary.

There are currently 15 (FIFTEEN) markets under contemplation with Ariaria, Sabon Gari and Sura markets in Aba, Kano and Lagos as flagships.

The 6 (SIX) hydro dams are to be concessioned to private operators to build, operate, and transfer.

Our thinking is simple. While the whole value chain and power privatization gradually evolves, it is possible to create Oases of success by showing to our children that they can have reliable power while in school.

If that is a reason to get children to school and keep them there, certainly, no good business can oppose this.

Indeed, it seems to me sensible to expect that the future of today’s business and even Government, rests solely on the quality of education that the current generation of students get.

As for the markets, the 37,000 shops in Ariaria, about 13,000 in Sabon Gari, and about 1,000 in Sura represent SMEs, where the majority of our people earn a living.

They are currently paying for expensive power from small and environmentally unfriendly generators.

It seems to me that our nation will have come to their aid if we deliver reliable power to the most vulnerable like them.

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is my update about the progress of our policies and the rationale behind them.

I welcome you to this meeting and wish us fruitful deliberations.

Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN
Honourable Minister of Power, Works and Housing
Monday 13th August 2018