It therefore questioned the wisdom in the privatisation of the National Power Holding Company (PHCN), and also the capacity of the private entrepreneurs that bought the power generation and distribution outfits.
In a communique issued on Friday, a day after it ended its meeting in Kaduna, ACF lamented the regular excuses of shortage of gas supply, low water level, vandalisation of installations, lack of spare parts etc which have continued to be given as reasons for poor power supply over the years, saying that they are no longer acceptable.
The communique signed by the National Publicity Secretary of the forum, Muhammad Ibrahim Biu, said the new owners of the Generation plants and the Distribution outfits were expected to have complimented Federal Government huge investments by injecting more funds and expertise that will improve performance at minimum cost to the consumers.
ACF therefore called on the Federal Government to take necessary and practical steps that will improve the power supply including reviewing the privatisation.
“Government should also put in place policy framework that will encourage investments in the renewable energy sector, (solar and coal) to compliment the thermal and hydro generating plants,” he said.
The forum, however, applauded the Federal Government’s policy on food security which encourages investment in agriculture and called on farmers to avail themselves of the revolving funds set aside by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and other financial institutions.
It expressed dismay over the recurrent ethno-religious and farmers-herdsmen clashes in Kaduna, Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Nasarawa and other states and resolved to visit the affected communities to commiserate with them over the unfortunate killings and destruction of property.
The federal government says 204 people have been killed in the Southern Kaduna crisis since the latest wave of violence between Fulani herdsmen and indigenous people of the area began last year. Some groups say the death toll is far higher.
“We will mediate between the warring factions with a view to finding an amicable solution to the conflicts,” AFC said.
The forum added that, the proposed Northern Security Summit being supported by the Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF) to be held in April would also addressing the causes of the conflicts and proffer enduring solutions.
The forum, however, expressed concern over the slow pace of work on some Federal Government projects that are of economic value and have direct bearing on the lives of the people.
It therefore called on the Government and the National Assembly to appropriate adequate funds in the 2017 Budget for the completion of these projects like the completion of Baro Port Terminal, the Mambilla Power Project, the Kano-Maiduguri Dual Carriage Way, Kano-Lagos Railway, and many others.
While commending the efforts of the Nigerian military and the security agencies in tackling the security situation with its limited personnel and equipment, ACF, however, noted the on-going recruitment exercise into the various security organisations – Army, Air Force, Police Force, and Para-military agencies, saying: “It will ultimately strengthen the security outfits, and urged the youth to avail themselves of this opportunity.”
