Nigerian Senate on Thursday set up a 13-member Ad-Hoc Committee to carry out a comprehensive investigation into the management of funds so far appropriated for the power sector since 1999.
The Committee, headed by Senator Abubakar Kyari, was also given the task of probing the unbundling of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria by the Federal Government.
According to Punch, the Upper Chamber took the decision while passing a motion sponsored by the Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, seeking the immediate reconnection of some parts of Borno State back to the national grid in view of the challenges the blackout was posing to his constituents.
The Senate urged the Federal Government to complete the Mambilla Power Project with the aim of improving electricity supply in the country.
It also called on President Muhammadu Buhari to direct the Transmission Company of Nigeria to immediately reconnect Maiduguri to the national grid.
It also directed the committee to conclude its investigations and report to the Senate within two weeks. The senators, while contributing to the debate, also condemned the inability of the TCN to provide uninterrupted power supply to all parts of the country.
The Punch reports that Ndume had expressed concern that Nigeria, with a population of over 150 million, produced only 4,600 megawatts, while South Africa with a population of about 40 million people produced 40,000 megawatts.
He observed that the disconnection of Maiduguri , the Borno State capital, from the national grid, as well as the degeneration of power supply across the country had affected the economy negatively.