Diesel suppliers, generator dealers sabotaging power supply in Nigeria – Ex-Minister, Nnaji

By Sola Omoniyi, Lagos

Former Minister of Power, Professor Bart Nnaji has narrated how diesel suppliers and generator dealers are allegedly sabotaging some efforts by the federal government and power distribution companies to have a steady electricity supply in Nigeria.

He disclosed that some of the generator and diesel dealers approached him, complaining that he (Nnaji) was ruining their businesses.

Nnaji, who is the founder of Geometric Power, identified diesel suppliers and generator sellers as obstacles for those who are in the power generation business in the country.

He stated this in Umuahia while participating in the FLO 94.9 FM programme in the Abia State capital tagged, “the South East Political Roundtable”.

According to the Minister, “There are two areas when you talk of cabals in the sector. The diesel suppliers and generator users.

“Nigeria is a big user of generators because of our enormous power needs and those who are in the business would not want any interruption.

“The diesel suppliers feel that a stable power supply would destroy their business. Some of them came to me that I was ruining their business and I advised them to get into a better business, maybe power generation.”

Continuing, Nnaji disclosed that like some other sectors, the power sector has some cabals that make gains from the problems of poor power supply.

“A graphic picture of how dangerous the diesel suppliers can be is when we were in government, somewhere in the South West, some men cut down 30KVA lines to stop electricity supply to thousands of users.

“Unfortunately the diesel supplying company sponsored the operation; incidentally the power cable fell on one of them who later confessed to the crime,” he said.