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Usman Mohammed, Managing Director of TCN
The attention of Media Practitioners in the Energy Sector, MPIS, has been drawn to a misleading headline in an online platform which portrays the focused and hardworking Managing Director of Transmission Company of Nigeria TCN, Alhaji Usman Mohammed as not believing in the capacity of the Nigerian power sector to work better. Consequently, we make bold to state that:
(1) The writer of the story misquoted the MD in the context of the interview under reference, as the tittle negates the whole essence of the industry and cannot be true. All the actions, conducts and comments of Mr Mohammed since he took charge of the TCN has been targeted at improving the power sector in which he is a key player. It is therefore irreconcilable, malicious and mischievous for anybody to attribute a comment that “Nigeria should not expect stable electricity” to him, not when he is working for Nigeria to have stable power.
(2) The MD has executed several projects and programs which have repositioned the TCN and indeed the transmission segment of the power sector. There is therefore no doubt that the transmission segment is now on the path of sustainable growth and development. The generation as well as Distribution companies are therefore urged to endeavour at all times to play their complementary roles to TCN effectively to assist the Nigerian power sector attain the desired stability. As we speak, the distribution companies owe TCN over N231 Billion as at march, 2019.
(3) The MD’s record of achievements in the electricity industry both as a staff of African Development Band, AfDB (where he was a principal power utility transformation specialist) and Acting MD of TCN where he was until now, speaks volumes. Thus, within the short period as MD of TCN, he has been able to turn around the fortunes of the transmission segment of the power sector around. It is now most stable, reliable and a most profitable segment in the nation’s electricity value chain.
(4) We commend the Managing Director for working assiduously hard to transform the electricity sector and thank the President and Commander In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Gen Mohammadu Buhari, GCFR, who in his wisdom and prerogative appointed Usman Mohammed as the substantive MD of TCN. We however urge Nigerians of all hues to give the MD the necessary support to enable him to succeed
(5) Being that independent findings alleged that those sponsoring this negative press against the MD are the corrupt elements that benefit from corruption and decay in the system which the MD has terminated, we urge those carrying out the campaign of calumny, like this news item, to desist from doing so as it runs contrary to the ethics of the journalism profession and also advise the MD to discountenance it as the handiwork of fifth columnist which will not succeed as his competence is not in doubt, most self-evident at least within the context of the current stability in electricity supply in the country and beyond.
(6) MPIS also appeals to the MD to remain focused in his duty and not to allow the campaign of calumny to distract him. He should continue in his effort to deliver measurable and productive service as posterity will surely vindicate him.
Finally, as a professional group, we have found out that the MD is not what the current attacks against his person in the pages of newspapers suggest. On the contrary, he is competent and most goal driven. He had set himself a goal: to reposition the power distribution sector for efficiency and reliability. Whether he has reached the goal can be seen by the current energy output in the country, which has doubled the pre-Buhari level. At least, under his directorship of TCN, the country has for the first time in three years witnessed remarkable improvement in grid stability .
This is a fact Nigerians should be grateful for and proud of. Albeit, we have, as a nation, not yet reached there, by his able leadership of the sector we shall get there. Meanwhile, all we need do is to throw our weight behind him to succeed in his effort to stabilize the sector than criticize him unnecessarily on the pages of newspapers.
Signed by :
Comrade Michael Ogbonna Mallam Hassan M Abdullahi
Ag National Coordinator General Secretary
