UMUAHIA (SUNDIATA POST)- A lawmaker, Rep. Ibe Osonwa, representing Arochukwu/Ohafia Federal Constituency of Abia, has advised the Federal Government to prioritise stable electricity supply in the country.
Osonwa gave the advice during an interactive session with newsmen in Umuahia on Saturday.
He said that achieving stable power in the country would help to unlock the productive capacity of Nigerians, scale up exportation and reduce importation.
“Once electricity is stable and affordable and production goes up, prices of goods will become cheaper and affordable,” he said.
According to him, the only way Nigeria can migrate from consumption to production is for the Federal Government to prioritise electricity supply and reduce the cost of production.
“When that is achieved, the country’s manufacturing sector will scale up their production capacity, this will create employment and poverty and hunger will ultimately reduce.
“Nigeria is failing as a country to become productive and I’m hopeful that once the problem of power is solved, the country will become productive.
“We are buying everything and producing nothing because of poor electricity supply.
“This is not good for a country with a huge population as Nigeria,” he said.
According to him, while the economies of India and China depend on the country’s huge population, Nigeria’s large population is not efficiently deployed in enhancing production.
The lawmaker advised that electricity distribution must be given to competent companies with the capacity to perform efficiently.
He argued that such contracts must not necessarily be given to Nigerians.
He contended that the existing contracts could be revoked and awarded to other companies to pave the way for efficiency in power distribution.
He expressed concern over the alleged inability of the existing distribution companies to meet the electricity needs of the country.
He also alleged sharp practices by the industry operators, citing the existence of crazy bills, arising from estimated billing method by the companies.
He recalled an instance where his Ebem Ohafia community was given a N1.2 billion electricity bill, at a time it had no power supply for five years.
Osonwa said that he had been able to show relevance and make impact in the House, having sponsored some bills and motions since the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly (NASS).
He listed some of the bills to include the one for the establishment of a second Federal Medical Centre in Abia to be cited in Ohafia to also service neighbouring communities in Cross River and Akwa Ibom.
The others are the bills to increase and improve businesses as well as the one for freight forwarders.
He said that he also sponsored motions to tackle ecological challenges in his constituency and establishment of a security post in Ohafia to help end the incessant fatal cross-community clashes.
He cited the May 10 attack on Isu Community allegedly by Ukwa Community in Akwa Ibom in which a woman was killed.
Osonwa expressed delight that the House had granted his request that the security post be established and manned by military personnel.
He also said that he had attracted some road projects to his constituency, including the Oboro-Ohafia-Okagwe-Ndi-nku-Abiriba Road.
He said that six of the projects had been awarded and awaiting the release of funds to take off, while 15 others already captured in the budget had yet to be awarded.
Meanwhile, the legislator said that the contract for the rehabilitation of the Umuahia-Bende-Abam-Ohafia Road had been revoked by the Federal Government over alleged non-performance.
He said that the Muri and Omenuko
Bridges on the road were in deplorable condition and deserved urged government’s attention.
Osonwa expressed happiness over the conviviality and spirit of oneness existing among the Abia caucus in the NASS.
He attributed the healthy development to the enviable leadership style of Gov. Alex Otti, saying that the governor’s
sterling performance in office had positively changed the ugly narratives about Abia.
“My governor is the best performing governor in the country today and he is making us proud,” he said. (NAN)
