The Lagos State House ofAssembly has criticised the increasing rate of importation of generating sets into Nigeria, saying that it is as a result of the Federal Government’s ineptitude and inability to provide adequate power supply to the people.
Chairman, House Committee on Public Account, Hon. Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla, disclosed this during a chat with newsmen at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Alausa, Lagos.
Ayinla accused dealers in generating sets of hiding under the auspices of importation to frustrate the electricity supply situation in the country.
According to him, dealers of generating sets capitalise on the lapses of the Federal Government to import generators, as consumers have no other choice than to patronise them.
He blamed the Federal government for failure to provide electricity which has empowered the generator dealers to widen the scope of their business.
His words: “If the federal government had done the needful, dealers of generator would have no other choice than to stop the importation.”
The lawmaker, who is also a generators dealer, recalled that the ENRON project that was initiated by the former Governor of Lagos State, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, failed because the Ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo scuttled the initiative.
He argued that such a politicking was responsible for the setback in Lagos State’selectricity generation capacity, adding that governments are expected to run irrespective of which political party is in power.
“The issue of politics should not be considered in the development of the nation. All politicians should work hand-in-hand for the growth of the country and no project should be abandoned.”
Ayinla reiterated that majority of Nigerians are living below one dollar per day because of epileptic power supply, adding that jobs are not provided and many cannot work independently or in self-employment.
He maintained that inadequate power supply is also responsible for the failure of the manufacturing sector.
According to him, “If you want to go into manufacturing sector, you must be very careful because diesel will finish you out of business. Government working against itself is not good for the democracy of the country. If government provides power for its citizens, the issue of importation of generating sets would be a thing of the past.
“If there is efficient electricity supply in the country, the growth of the people will be enhanced. There will be no problem of poor health care, transportation among others. The truth is that the government is not ready to assist its citizens. The major problem of business is electricity,” he concluded.
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