The Minister of Power, Works and Housing  Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN on Thursday presided at the historic signing of agreements between  the Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) and Aba Power Limited to end a three –  year dispute that had stalled  the completion of a 141 MW Power Project for the area.

Speaking after witnessing the signing of the agreements between Aba Power Limited and Enugu Electricity Distribution Company Plc and Interstate Electricity Limited on the other, Fashola expressed confidence that the temporary energy crisis facing the country will be overcome and the target of 10,000MW set by President Muhammadu  Buhari met.

While making an appeal that everybody must contribute to solve the problem rather than being a part of the problem, the Minister said with such Landmark resolution of a three year old dispute that had stalled the completion of a critical power project in the South East and the recovery of four turbines that were hitherto down in Jebba, he was certain that the country’s power challenges can be overcome.

Speaking on the resolution of the three – year old dispute, Fashola said “ a very momentous milestone”, had just been witnessed adding that the venue of the event was crowded because it was also being used for a meeting on the Energy Mix being developed for the country.

Commenting on the calibre of people involved in brokering the truce on both sides, the Minister declared: “ I think it is important to see that two people who have served this country as Minister are on different sides of the fence, Prince Tokunbo Kayode SAN and Professor Barth Nnaji and it’s also interesting that the Vice President Professor  Yemi  Osinbajo SAN to whom  l must show appreciation for not only initiating this process but for trusting our Ministry with the responsibility to see it through, our gratitude to him is deep and profound”.

Fashola noted that though courts may be the right place to resolve disputes ,common sense will make more meaning to the people of Aba and to the traders in Ariaria, who would benefit immensely from the resolution of the dispute.

Noting that the development would also be a major boost for “Made in Nigeria “ goods for which the markets in the area had been famous, Fashola said that it also made common sense to realise that the electricity market was  beginning to evolve with the  private entrepreneurship phase being just two years and a few months old.