The Minister of Power, Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola late Wednesday said that it is not the Federal Government’s problem if citizens in the country do not have electricity.

Speaking at the Nextier Power Dialogue in Abuja, the Minster who explained that the operators in the power sector (generation and distribution) are now privately owned companies, said that citizens who want to weaponise electricity, have to face the businessmen who have taken it up.

“There are problems without a doubt and we must deal with them. But let me remind you, all of the assets that the Ministry of Power used to control for power have been sold by the last administration before I came.

“And so if you don’t have power, it is not the government’s problem. Let us be honest,” he said.

Defending his position, the former Lagos governor also made analogies with similar sectors in the country to buttress his point that his role as Minister and that of his Ministry is “regulatory, oversight and policy,” but said he couldn’t turn his back when things are not working. Hence his involvement.

“The people who are operating the power sector, generation and distribution are now privately owned companies. I am here because I am concerned. If your telephone is not working, it is not the Minister of Communication that you go to. Let us be very clear,” he said.

“If your bankovercharges you interest, is it the Minister of Finance you go to? So let’s be clear. This is now a private business by Act of Parliament 2005,” he added.

Temidayo Taiwo-Sidiq

Temidayo Taiwo-Sidiq is a Journalist, Political Analyst and Satirist with major interest in Nigerian Politics, Governance and Sports.