Confab: Niger demands control of power projects
Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State has asked the 11 delegates representing the state at the ongoing national conference to demand for the control of hydro electric power projects in the state.
He said power generation and distribution should be decentralized, adding that it is morally and financially wrong for states or private investors to construct power plants, generate and distribute electricity only for such organizations to plough such generated power to the national grid. The governor, who gave the directive yesterday in Minna, said delegates representing the state at the conference should push for the full implementation of the Hydro Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC) bill.
“It is the solution to the annual problem being faced by people in riverine areas and flood plains of the three hydro electric dams situated at Jebba, Kainji and Shiroro with another one under construction in Zungeru, all in Niger State,” he said.
On the issue of state policing, the confab delegates were asked to support any move that will lead to the devolution of authority to governors for the maintenance of law and order.
“The structure of the police should be decentralized in such a way that state governors are given certain powers to give directives to state commissioners of police to address crime rates and ensure effective policing,” he added.
The delegates were also urged to demand the institution of a horizontal revenue allocation formula which will see all states getting equal amount of 36 per cent of whatever accrues to the federation account.