Reps summon ministers of finance, power, others over monthly payment of $33 million to Azura

The House of Representatives has invited the Ministers of Power, Finance and heads of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), over a $33 million Azura power purchase agreement.
Other agencies invited include Nigeria Bulk Electricity Transmission (NBET), Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) and Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).
James Faleke, chairman, House of Reps Committee on Finance, investigating the alleged breach of agreement and perennial power failure in the country, invited the heads of all the agencies in Abuja on Tuesday.
Mr Faleke said the agencies would be brought before the committee to explain their role in the power deal, adding that the appropriate date for their appearance before the committee would be communicated to the affected agencies.
On August 19, the committee discovered that the country was committed to a monthly payment of $33 million in a take or pay deal.
The committee, however, discovered that Azura Power Plant had not been able to deliver the 450 megawatts of electricity agreed with TCN to the national grid since the contract was signed.
Mr Faleke, however, told the managing director of TCN, Sule Abdulazeez, to present its budget allocation from 2002 to date and the contract awarded and the certificates by TCN on the power transmission line.
He said if Azura would demand money in dollars from power being generated, Nigeria should also demand money from Azura in dollars for power being used from the national grid.
The committee also asked TCN to provide its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from 2010, including its audit report, while also picking holes in the IGR being spent by TCN outside budgetary provision.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette

Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices

Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”

Health
Malnutrition: Red Cross urges northern govs to declare state of emergency in health sector
Aminu Abdullahi, the acting director of healthcare at NRCS, stated that malnutrition remained one of the most underreported health issues in the country.

Education
Bill to establish varsity of science in Gombe scales second reading
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau commended the sponsor of the bill on his passion for the educational development of Gombe State and the North-East in general.

Politics
2027: Opposition coalition in Gombe adopts ADC
Idris Umar, a former Minister of Transportation, said the coalition aimed to rescue Gombe from hardship.

Economy
Dangote Refinery reduces ex-depot price of fuel to N820 per litre
It would be recalled that the company last week reduced its ex-depot price from N880 to N840 per litre.

NationWide
FG launches passport front office for senior public officials
Mr Tunji-Ojo said the office has a specialised facility designated to facilitate a timely and seamless passport process.

Kano
EFCC quizzes man over undeclared $420,900, £5,825, CFA3.95 million cash
Mr Oyewale said the suspects would be charged to court as soon as the investigation was concluded.