Zungeru (ZHPP), a hydropower plant, is the subject of a request for investigation by the President of the Nigerian Senate.
An investigation session
Zungeru, the power plant located in Niger State, is the subject of an ongoingbid investigation session. It is a matter of ensuring the regularity of the procedure. The investigative hearing was held before the Senate Power Committee in accordance with the resolution in plenary session.
The principle of the motion was to ask the Senate to exercise oversight in accordance with the constitution. This was to avoid undue liability transfers and future third-party claims against the government. The investigation of the concession of the Zungeru power plant was to provide guarantees.
Resource optimization
The investigation was based on a value-for-money criterion compared to the costs of building Zungeru. The Nigerian government also took out huge loans on this occasion. In addition, a large annual budget puts a strain on the state’s finances.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan says:
“I am pleased to note that the committee has invited all relevant stakeholders to submit their inputs, observations and contributions to the work of the committee in carrying out its mandate. The concerns of the Senate, which led to this investigative hearing, must be seen by all well-meaning Nigerians in the context of the government’s recent experience with the privatization of energy assets in Nigeria, which has continued to generate public outcry and criticism.”
Nigeria’s administrative authorities concede that the disposal of state-owned energy assets is open to criticism. The Zungeru power plant is also the subject of criticism in this respect.
Statement of the situation
Indeed, the precarious state of the Nigerian electricity sector is particularly acute. Available data indicates that between 2015 and 2022 the Nigerian national network would collapse 98 times. Thus, Abuja is obliged to compensate co-contractors to meet its obligations.
This represents billions of naira. It is therefore important for the Senate to have the most accurate information available following the investigations and hearings. Indeed, the Senate has a constitutional responsibility to conduct this hearing without minimizing the role of other committees.
Willingness to be transparent
It is about the Senate exposing any semblance of corruption or waste. It will also be necessary to avoid inefficiency. These recommendations are made within the framework of sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution.
Senate President Ahmad Lawan says:
“You should therefore take this investigative hearing seriously because its outcome will determine the Senate’s final position on the Zungeru concession proposal.”
The hearing allowed the proposed Zungeru dealers to enlighten the committee. Finally, this concession process is part of a commitment to transparency.
