By Musa Adamu
Abuja
Nigeria has retained the chairmanship of West African Power Pool (WAPP) executive board with the appointment of the Deputy Managing Director of the Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN), Engr. Abubakar Atiku, for a term of three years.
The appointment took effect from November, 2015 to November 2018.
Engr. Atiku succeeds another Nigerian, Engr. Akinsola Akinniranye, a former managing director of the TCN.
In a statement signed by the general manager, public affairs, Seun Olgunju, TCN said the appointment was made at the 30th WAPP executive board meeting, held on Monday, November 23, 2015 and was ratified by representatives from power utilities of all the member states during the 10th session of the General Assembly held on the November 25, 2015, in Dakar, Senegal.
In his acceptance speech, the new board chairman, Engr. Atiku, expressed gratitude to the assembly for the confidence reposed in him, especially as WAPP was at the critical point of implementing its programmes as enunciated by the founding fathers.
He promised to give his best, especially in ensuring prompt projects implementation.
Since inception, Nigeria has chaired the WAPP board and Dr. Atiku’s is the 3rd for the country.
The inaugural chairman of the board was Engr. Joseph Makoju, former MD/ CEO of the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA), followed by Engr. Sola Akinniranye, a former MD of the TCN.
Established in 1999 with about 14 countries as members, WAPP is a cooperation of the national electricity companies in Western Africa under the auspices of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).
Its members are working towards establishing a reliable power grid for the region as well as a common market for electricity.
The pool is mandated to develop and implement the technical, legal and political frameworks for integrating the operations of the national electrical networks in a unified market.
