Yar’Adua appoints caretakers for NERC

Okey Muogbo, Abuja - 19.02.2009

PRESIDENT Umaru Yar’Adua has appointed Mr. Imamu-dden Talba and Mr. Alex Amakom to take charge of the affairs of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), which commissioners had been on suspension over allegations of N1.5 billion fraud.

Briefing journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, Minister of Power, Mr. Lanre Babalola, said the appointment was to ensure that the running of the commission was not grounded.

He recalled that following the recommendations of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), President Yar’Adua suspended the seven commissioners of the commission to allow it carry out investigations into the alleged fraud.

The minster used the opportunity to asure members of the public that this development would not affect the operations of NERC and would like to reassure consumers and investors that this administrative arrangement would continue to meet the needs of the sector.

The minister said about N100 billion was needed to supply adequate electricity in the country.

He blamed the poor power supply in the country on long years of neglect of the sector and absence of master plan.

He, however, ruled out the idea of placing ban on the importation of generating sets, saying that public power supply had to satisfy consumers’ demands before such ban could be contemplated.