Daily Independent (Lagos)
Daniel Kanu
12 January 2009
President General of Aka Ikenga, Igbo Intellectual think-tank, Dr Sylvan Ebigwei, has asked President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to give priority attention to power supply as well as transportation. Also, he advised that a Surgeon-General of the Federation should henceforth be appointed.
Ebigwei, who spoke with Sunday Independent, Saturday said no nation can develop its maximum technological capacity without efficient power supply because it is a veritable ingredient that stimulates the development of every sector. He emphasised that any government that neglects power would have a stunted economic growth.
"President Yar'Adua should make every effort to ensure that power is made to be efficient because it is the stimulant and what drives economic growth."
"With power, industries will spring up, mind you everything we do in our lives is dependent on energy. So government should promote independent power supply. The government in collaboration with banks should try and encourage private participation by putting necessary infrastructure, giving tax waiver, enacting enabling laws and regulations especially on acquisition of land," he said.
Also Ebigwei called for proper overhaul of the transportation sector through improved mass transport project, advising that the rail system should be resuscitated.
"All over the world the rail system has proven to be the most efficient especially light rails, could be used in the urban areas while efforts should be made to bridge the southern part from Lagos passing through Delta, to Port-Harcourt, Calabar and other areas, and same will also link the northern part," he explained.
Ebigwei, a senator, as well as member of the Governing Board of Faculty of General Dental Practice, National Postgraduate College of Nigeria also advocated for the appointment of Surgeon-General of the Federation, who will take care of core issues of policies concerning health matters.
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