October 13, (THEWILL) – The Federal Government has debunked reports that it planned to sell the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN),
Minister of Power, Engineer Abubakar Aliyu, in a statement issued by his Special Assistant (Media), Malam Isa Sanusi, said the clarification became necessary following media reports that the Federal Government has finalised plans to privatise the TCN.
Aliyu urged the public to dismiss statements regarding “a non-existing plan to privatize the TCN”.
He said claims in the media that TCN, which is the only wholly government-owned operator in Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI), would be sold in the next few months were false.
“These reports are untrue and are only mere misinformation aimed at spreading panic in the power sector, which is making progress towards ensuring that Nigerians enjoy uninterrupted power supply.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria has no intent to sell or privatise the Transmission Company of Nigeria, and no one has made a statement of an intent to sell TCN.
“The Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) is a centrepiece in the Federal Government of Nigeria’s efforts to rejuvenate the power sector.
“As part of the repositioning of TCN, job opportunities are being created, as with the recently-concluded ramp-up of employment, contrary to claims that there is a plan for a mass disengagement of staff at TCN. The organisation has also been carrying out sustained capacity building by training and retraining of staff across all cadre for efficiency and service delivery”, he said.
Transmission, he said, is a vital segment of the electricity value chain that constantly needs significant investment.
“As it’s the best practice across the world, the government of Nigeria maintains the transmission segment of the power value chain even when other segments have been privatised.
“Currently, the federal government is investing and supporting efforts to make TCN a world-class transmission service provider.
“The federal government under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari focuses on upgrading, stabilising and modernising Nigeria’s power industry through various interventions, including the Nigeria-Siemens partnership under the Presidential Power Initiative (PPI)”, Sanusi noted.
