Reps Press For Answers Over $33m Azura Power Purchase Agreement

The House of Representatives has invited the Ministers of Power, Finance and heads of Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company as, well as the Transmission Company of Nigeria over the controversial 33 million dollars Azura power purchase agreement.

Also invited is Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

Hon. James Faleke, Chairman, House Committee on Finance investigating alleged breached of agreement and perennial power failure in the country invited heads of all the agencies in Nass.

Faleke said, “The agencies would be brought before the committee to explain their roles in the power deal, adding that the appropriate date would be communicated to the affected agencies.

The committee had on August 19 discovered that the country was committed to a monthly payment of $33 million in a take or pay deal.

The committee however discovered that Azura power plant had not been able to deliver the 450 megawatt of electricity agreed to with NBET to the national grid since the contract was signed.

Hon. Faleke, however told the Managing Director, TCN, Engr Sule Abdulazeez to present its budget allocation from 2002 and the contract awarded and the certificates by TCN on power transmission lines.

He said if Azura would demand money in dollars from power being generated, Nigeria should also demand money from Azura in dollars for power being used from the national grid whenever it didn’t generate power.

The committee also asked TCN to provide it with its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) from 2010 including its audit reports, while also picking hole in the IGR being spent by TCN outside budgetary provisions.

(Independent)