TCN recommends Disco for liquidation

Usman Gur Mohammed, the managing director, Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), has recommended that one of the 11 distribution companies be liquidated.

He told Mamman Sale, new minister of power, and Goddy Jedy Agba, the minister of state, who were taking their inaugural briefings from the ministries, departmentd and agencies heads in Abuja that the recommendation was due to lack of performance of the DisCo.

The TCN’s boss, who did not mention the name of the power firm, insisted that the TCN has the power under its act to make such recommendation.

He said: “honorable ministers, as we speak with you, we have actually recommended the liquidation of one DisCo for lack of performance.”

According to him: “There is no reason why we cannot change this despicable and miserable narrative.

“This is what Nigerians expect from us as we begin this new journey. We must therefore brace up to face this challenge.”

Marilyn Amobi, managing director Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading (NBET) Company, noted the company has borne a payment of N181billion to five generation companies for electricity that Nigerians did not use.

According to her, in the context of the N701billion power sector intervention fund, the federal government paid N105billion as five percent to GenCos for unused electricity.

The payments, she said, were due to the power purchase agreements that government had with the companies.

Reacting to the comment, Louis Edozien, the permanent secretary, told the minister that Nigerians were agitated about the quality of service in the industry.

He submitted: “We created an industry that places a huge continent liability on the government. We have to apply our intellect to this problem to solve it …

“The minister of state I know that t is an area you are familiar with. Both of you have to lead us out of this quagmire.”