President Goodluck Jonathan
President
Goodluck Jonathan has said the country needs about $2.9tn investment
layout to develop infrastructure over the next 30 years.
The President said this at the Nigeria
Power Sector Investors’ Conference held at the Banquet Hall of the
Presidential Villa in Abuja on Monday.
Jonathan, who was represented by
Vice-President Namadi Sambo, explained that a significant percentage of
the sum for infrastructure development was expected to come from the
private sector.
Jonathan said, “Under our Integrated
National Infrastructure Master Plan, we need a total of $2.9tn for our
infrastructure developmental efforts in the next 30 years, from 2014 to
2045.
“The energy sector alone needs an
infusion of $900bn during the period. Of this, a significant percentage
is expected to come from the private sector.
“The power sector alone needs about
$10bn for CAPEX of the generation and distribution companies in the next
few years in enabling us to add additional 5,000MW.
“Similarly, our transmission network
continues to attract serious attention. The transmission grid requires
an annual investment of about $1.5bn for the next five years to ensure
its reliability and stability.
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria has
commenced the aggressive implementation of the expansion blueprint
funded by a mix of appropriation and funds from financial and
multilateral institutions.”
The President stated that at present, only about 55 per cent of the country’s population had access to electricity.
He said, “This arises mainly from the
fact that Nigeria’s per capital electricity generation is relatively one
of the lowest in global terms. Even then, power supply from the
national grid still remains as low as 50 per cent.
“In order to meet our strategic national
economic growth and developmental goals as encapsulated in the Vision
2020 and the transformation agenda, we needed to take decisive and
courageous measure to work towards a 40,000MW target in the years
ahead. This informed our decision on reform and privatisation.”
On why the private sector was better
suited to effectively manage and attract the huge capital required for
constant and affordable electricity supply to all Nigerians, Jonathan
said private investors had a track record of resilience, vibrancy,
foresight and courage.
He noted that in virtually all sectors
of the economy, the great show of enterprise, creativity and patriotism
by private businesses had kept the country’s economy strong, versatile
and forward looking.
“It was the dynamism of the Nigerian
private sector that ensured the raising of over $2.5bn that ensured the
successful conclusion of the power divestment process,” he said.
Jonathan added that the Federal
Government was setting up a Power Sector Intervention Fund to enable
industry players to have access to cheap and long-term funds.
He said the financial resources for the
special fund would be pooled by the Federal Government, Development
Financial Institutions as well as local and global financial partners.
The President said, “The Coordinating
Minister of the Economy will give details of the operational structure
of the fund. But, it will essentially provide avoidable refinancing and
lending services to the sector.
“On its part, the Federal Government
will make an initial deposit of N300bn, and I call on all participants
to join hands towards the success of this endeavour.”
Also at the forum, the Group Managing
Director/Chief Executive Officer, Diamond Bank Plc, Dr. Alex Otti, said
Nigerian banks had so far invested N750bn in the power sector since the
commencement of the privatisation exercise in the industry.
He also announced the readiness of the banks to plough more funds into the sector in order to end power outages in the country.
Otti described the Federal Government’s determination to improve electricity supply as good motivation to invest in the sector.
“On behalf of local banks, the last time
I checked, the banking industry had invested well over N750bn in the
power sector and we are ready to do more. This was as of 2013 and we are
willing to do more because we can see commitment on the part of the
government to transform the sector,” he said.
Otti expressed satisfaction with the
level of improvement in the sector and assured investors that the power
industry was worth investing in.
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