Reps summon TCN MD over $33m power deals

The House of Representatives Committee on Finance yesterday summoned the Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Sule Abdulaziz, over the $33m Azura power and other plants’ deals under the Niger Delta Power Holding Company. TCN Executive Director, Transmission Service Provider, Victor Adewumi and other officials on Monday appeared before the committee which is investigating the proposed sale of the National Integrated Power Plant (NIPP) by the Bureau of Public Procurement.

Adewumi said though the Azura power plant, located in Edo State, was supposed to produce 450 megawatts, it varied based on some factors. A document presented to the committee indicated that Azura had produced a cumulative 1,755.9 megawatts within a certain period.

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The chairman of the committee,  James Faleke, observed that what was contained in the document was 1.7 kilowatts against the 2 kilowatts presented by the team. He said the epileptic power supply by Azura was a violation of the agreement signed.

He said: “Nigerians are willing to set up industries, but there’s no power. Yet, they’ve paid huge sums of money. This is just an issue; not witch-hunting. It’s not about TCN, but Nigeria”.