FG will fast track connection of rural areas to national grid - Nebo

The Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, said government would fast track the process of connecting Nigerians in the rural areas to the national grid.

Nebo stated this while rounding off the 6th Power Summit/Civil Society Forum in Abuja on Saturday.

Nebo restated that the power sector reform was to ensure sustainable energy delivery to Nigerians through increased power generation, transmission and distribution.

The minister held that with the successful sale of government owned distribution and generation companies, the ministry was almost getting to the end of the power reform process.

According to him, Federal Government's privatisation of the power sector has been globally adjudged as very transparent.

He pledged to continue to ensure that the new owners provided effective service to Nigerians.

He called on civil society organisations, to help to enlighten Nigerians about reforms in the power sector.

'Civic engagement like this provides an opportunity for Nigerian citizens to actively take ownership of the reforms.

'It also helps to promote attitudinal changes necessary for power supply and usage/consumption', he said.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Godknows Igali, thanked the CSOs for their support in the transformation of the sector.

Igali urged the CSOs to continue to educate the citizenry and always defend the rights of electricity consumers. NAN