Power Sector Stinks - U.S.

Leadership (Abuja)

24 August 2011

Power Sector Stinks - U.S.

The United States of America has said that it can only fulfil its promise to invest in the nation's power sector if the "endemic corruption" in the sector is adequately addressed.

The US ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Terence McCulley, gave this condition when he led the American ambassador for nuclear non-proliferation, Ms Bonnie Jenkins, on a visit to the minister of power, Prof. Barth Nnaji, at his office in Abuja yesterday.

Nigeria's power generation currently staggers around 3,200MW, leaving over 60 per cent of Nigerians unconnected to electricity. The poor state of the nation's power supply has also resulted in the mass exodus of multinational companies to neighbouring countries with better power supply, where the cost of doing business can be cheaper.

The US envoy stressed that his country had a commitment and interest in ensuring that it was part of the development of the power sector, but requested the minister to address the endemic corruption in the sector, as well as insisted that American investors must enjoy "level playing conditions" when they arrive.