Power Sector Critical For Economic Growth —Sanwo-Olu

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has described the power sector as a critical factor in economic development.

The Governor spoke on Friday during a visit to Power House, office of the Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu.

He commended the Minister on the improvement being witnessed in the power sector adding that no development can take place without the sector.

Addressing some of the Ministry’s directors who received him in company of the Minister, the Governor charged them to further improve on their performance.

”The power sector is critical for economic turn around and the development of the country, you must therefore constantly improve on your performance,” he said.

<em>Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwoolu and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mahmuda Mamman receiving the Governor during his visit to Adelabu in Abuja on Friday</em>

The Lagos Governor said everything revolved round the power sector and enjoined the Ministry to continue to cooperate with the Minister in order to deliver on their mandate and change the narrative in the power sector.

“Other critical sectors depend on power. I am therefore here to let you know how important you are to our development. Power is what can transform this country. We can use it as a springboard to galvanize our economy”, he said.

According to Sanwo-Olu, adequate power supply, apart from galvanizing the private sector will also enable Nigerians to do goings for themselves.

“Mr President is talking about N1 trillion GDP, this is possible within five years. The Private sector is the real engine of growth and when we bring down the cost of production through improved power supply, the Private sector will grow, they will employ more people.

“Government is not about growth, government is just the enabler of growth. So everybody must understand that once people are given power, they do not need government, they will do things on their own and that’s how nations grow,” he said.

<em>L-R: Special Adviser, Strategic Communication to the Minister of Power, Bolaji Tunji, Minister of Power, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mahmuda Mamman and Chief Technical Adviser to the Minister of Power, Adedayo Olowoniyi during the Governor’s visit to Adelabu in Abuja on Friday</em>

Commending the Minister, Sanwo-Olu said he had no doubt he would do well considering his antecedent.

“I have a high performance expectation from the Power Minister based on his antecedents,” he said.

He also appealed to the Minister to give consideration to Lagos State in the provision of Power infrastructure.

“Lagos is critical and an important microcosm of the country, it should therefore be given major consideration in the provision of Power infrastructure, but we are not saying this to the disadvantage of other States,” the Governor said.

Responding on behalf of the Ministry, the Permanent Secretary, Mahmuda Mamman while thanking the governor for the visit also solicited his cooperation and support in achieving the Ministry’s mandate adding that the Ministry cannot do it alone.