Leadership (Abuja)
Golu Timothy
2 May 2008
FCT administration is working on its Independent Power Project to complement what is being provided from the national grid by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN). FCT minister, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo Umar, made this disclosure while briefing the FCT executive committee members on the state of power supply to the Federal Capital Territory.
The minister stated that the presidency, the FCT administration and a Korean firm are involved but that, President Umar Musa Yar'Adua, has been a catalyst to the project by personally inviting the Koreans to Abuja.
According to him, the project is expected to produce 1,300 megawatts of electricity that will be solely dedicated to the Territory, considering its importance to the socio-economic development of the country.
The minister revealed that the Independent Power Plant would be sited in Gwagwalada, remarking that the FCTA was already in the process of handing over the site to the Korean firm to enable them commence work.
He stated that there cannot be meaningful development without a solid power supply to any modern city like Abuja.
His words: "We are determined to break the jinx because we must make a difference in the Federal Capital Territory, if we must be taken seriously as city managers.
"President Yar'Adua went out of his way, to personally invite the Koreans knowing fully well that it is only through strong power base that sound economic activities can be gingered", he stressed.
Umar reiterated that the dream was realisable since the process was being driven by the private sector, who could manage such important and gigantic project going by what had been happening in the advanced countries of the world.
He assured that his administration will not leave any stone unturned since as city managers, "we are at the receiving end of poor power supply".
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