ABUJA (Federal Ministry of Power Report) - The Minister of Power, Chinedu Nebo (Professor) while receiving the South African delegation led by Zwelini Mkhize (Dr), who is the former Premier of Kwazulu-Natal and Treasurer-General of the ANC has promised that the Nigerian Government would commit to the MoUs that were signed when the Nigerian President visited that country last year.
Chinedu Nebo reminded the South Africans that issues like coal - to - power, gas – to - power, energy metering, exchange of technical staff, capacity building, power sector road shows, exhibition and conferences were all captured in the MoU. He noted that, it is on record that South Africa’s metering company is one of the best in the world, just as he identified some landmark achievements of South-Africa in the energy sector.
The Minster said, ‘'we are ready to work together in all the areas identified as it is in the interest of both countries to provide the necessary impetus that will have multiplier or geometric effects, not arithmetic effects on the continent of Africa.’' Adding, our countries are carrying the load for the entire continent, hence much is expected from us.
He assured that his Ministry is committed and open to genuine ideas that will be mutually beneficial. “We are concerned about local content; we must share technical and professional ideas in engineering and technical know-how which will leap-frog us to meet the rest of the world. We must advance our mutual interests,” he pointed.
According to him, during Mr. President’s visit to South Africa, at least nine other MoUs were signed and they all aimed at Mr. President’s intention to rebrand and transform the Nigerian economy. He called on the South African Ambassador to do his best in the quest of the South Africa Development Community (SADC) regarding South Africa’s continuous leadership position.
The Minister of State for Power, Muhammed Wakil underscored the need for an interface between politics and good governance. He hinted that the ANC, which the leader of the delegation is the Treasurer - General is described as the oldest political group in Africa, while the PDP as the largest party in Africa have been involved in a lot of exchange programmes and capacity building aimed at repositioning the parties for better service delivery. He reminded the South African delegation that leaders are expected to work for their people, so nothing should be left to chances in the services to the fatherland.
Speaking earlier, Zwelini Mkhize (Dr), who is a frontline member of the ANC and the Treasurer-General, while briefing the Ministers said that his visit was to explore the collaborative areas to move the content of the MoU that was signed in South Africa last year forward. He told them that two developments in the South Africa energy sector informed his visit - one being the resignation of the CEO of the Eskom (the monopoly electricity company) and the second being that with President Zuma’s second tenure, a new Minister is now in charge of the energy sector and there is therefore need to fill the gaps.
“We are ready to work together with the Nigerian team in all areas identified. It is indeed a response to the huge demand for South Africa businessmen to build a long lasting relationship with Nigeria.” To this effect, the Treasurer-General, (ANC) said that his delegation is interested in facilitating business opportunities in the power sector.
He agreed with the Minister of Power that the time has come for Africa to have control over its resources and the skills that will enable the continent build indigenous frameworks for its development. He also directed that a high powered delegation comprising the new owners with some businessmen interested in power and officials from relevant power sector agencies to visit South Africa led by the Minister of State, Mohammed Wakil.
Nigeria Government Press Release.
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