ALL the power plants are to be fueled by gas. The Joint Venture Partners in consortium with NNPC will supply all gas from associated and non-associated gas sources. Gas transmission pipelines will be constructed to convey the gas from new and existing gas sources to the power station sites.

“The introduction of a tariff system driven by market forces ignored the fact that Nigeria’s economy is import dependent and that there would always be of fluctuation of prices arising from the cost of sourcing foreign exchange and other charges that were paid at the port of entry, bribes and other levies which the electricity generation and distribution companies are made to pay before they come up with the final product”.

In May 1999 when General Olusegun Obasanjo assumed office, the power supply system in the country was in a very terrible state of disrepair and neglect. The generation availability was down to 1,600MW from the installed capacity of 5,876MW.

IT was afternoon, and the sun beat down with all the anger it could muster. Francis Igbineweka (not real names) held his mobile phone handset against his left ear as he trekked down the street. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, even as rivulets of the same sweat streamed down the middle of his back.

GONE, the Magic Muse of Aracataca. In a manner similar to his wondrous tales, I can see him levitating towards the skies, a pen in one hand, a trumpet in the other, a rueful smile on his face. For his body is too precious, too imperishable for the grave’s cramping dungeon and its ravenous coven of worms.