By Adedapo Adesanya
The new Minister of Power, Mr Abubakar Aliyu, who assumed duty on Monday, has said a critical duty of his management is to ensure that “a steady power supply is delivered to Nigerians.”
He made this disclosure in Abuja where he urged stakeholders in the power sector to work together as a team in order to ensure Nigerians enjoy uninterrupted electricity.
On September 1, 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari sacked the former Minister of Power, Mr Sale Mamman as well as the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Sabo Nanono due to poor performance.
While taking over the helm of affairs at the ministry, Mr Aliyu said, “I am here to work together with all of you. I listened carefully when some of you introduced yourselves with various titles working in the Ministry of Power.
“I want those titles to be translated to production of power to Nigerians from generation, transmission to distribution; that is when our titles will make more meaning.”
According to him, “otherwise, time would come when we would be ashamed to mention our names with those titles.
“So, I want to ask everyone from the permanent secretary down to the smallest on the ladder by rank in any part of the ministry of power to be dedicated and committed to the task ahead.”
“I know you have done a lot; I am here to assist you together with you or without you because that is my mandate to ensure that we succeed. My employer sent me here for a purpose,” he said.
Mr Aliyu said that the purpose he was sent to the ministry was to ensure that everything about the power problem was done right, adding that he needed the necessary cooperation from all stakeholders to succeed.
“So, I need not only your hands on deck but I need your minds; that is where enthusiasms are, that is where loyalty is, that is where honesty is, that is where commitment and dedication is.
“Our work touches the lives of all Nigerians so, I am here to add value to what you have been doing,” he said.
On his part, his colleague and Minister of Water Resources, Mr Suleiman Adamu, while congratulating the Minister on his appointment, said that his ministry would partner with the Ministry of Power to provide electricity to the people.
Mr Adamu described his colleague as a professional who he said was equal to the task of the mandate given to him.
He said that Mr Aliyu is a team player and urged all the members of staff of the ministry to cooperate with him to deliver power to the people.
“I ask all of you to cooperate with him, as the power sector is very critical, so we need to do the right thing to deliver power to the people,’’ he said.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mr William Alo, assured the Minister that all the members of staff of the ministry were ready to work with him to deliver on the mandate.
“In the Ministry of Power, all members of staff are working together as a team to deliver on the mandate of President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure power is available to Nigerians.
“We know you are here to continue the good work of the president as it concerns the power sector.
“We will assure you of commitment to redouble our efforts to make sure we deliver on our mandate,” he said.
Modupe Gbadeyanka